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Concern over new Thornton Hall plans

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

CONCERNS have been raised in relation to the Government’s determination to plough ahead with the construction of a perimeter wall and road to the proposed Thornton Hall superprison. The works will get underway later this year or early 2010 despite the fact that the procurement process for main prison complex is yet to be carried out. Residents in the vicinity of the proposed prison complex fear that the road and wall works will be an “architecture for folly” as the plans for the main complex are still to overcome some substantial hurdles in terms of planning and available expenditure. Teresa McDonnell of the Rolestown-St Margaret’s lobby group said the Government’s determination to proceed with the plan would result in yet another “white elephant”. “We are still trying to get to the bottom of what the plans for the prison actually are now at this stage,” she told Northside People. “We think it’s very unusual and will result in a serious amount of money and resources being squandered for the sake of building a wall and a road. “The Government still don’t have a clue what the prison plans will be and whether it has the money to build it, yet they are going ahead with phase one. “It seems they are determined to put a landmark in Thornton and our concern is that we’ll be left with an architecture for folly – another white elephant of a failed Governmental plan.” She added: “Building the road and perimeter wall would be fine if we could be guaranteed that the rest of the prison was to follow.” Last week, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern revealed how the superprison plan would proceed. “Phase one will proceed in the short-term on the basis of separate contracts,” Minister Ahern stated. “Work is expected to start on this phase later this year or early next year.” “The procurement process for the buildings and facilities that will make up the new prison campus is complex. “Our objective will be to complete the procurement process for the main prison complex while construction of phase one is underway. “Once a contract is signed for the main complex, it will allow for construction to commence immediately.” Minister Ahern revealed that the planning proposals would be revised to “best protect the taxpayers’ interests”. He added that the plans would also be revisited in an effort to provide an alternative prison to Mountjoy in the shortest possible time frame. The available expenditure for the project will also be revised while phase one is underway in light of the changed economic climate. But not everyone shares the Minister’s optimism and steadfast determination to see the superprison plan through to fruition. Overcrowding in prisons such as Mountjoy is still a major issue despite the fact that 1,400 new prison spaces have been provided in the last 12 years.