Prison bosses agree to meet Pucklechurch residents over plans to make Ashfield YOI an adult jail (From Gazette Series)

Pucklechurch Parish Council to host National Offender Management Service bosses over plans to turn Ashfield YOI into adult jail

1:24pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News By Alexandra Womack

PRISON bosses have agreed to hold a public meeting with Pucklechurch residents over plans to convert Ashfield Young Offenders Institute into an adult prison.

In January, the government announced plans to turn Ashfield into a Category C jail for adult men as part of a wider overhaul which also included closing six jails and creating one super prison.

The Gazette reported at the time how people living near the institute were angry they had not been consulted on the changes. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has since relented and representatives have agreed to attend the next meeting of Pucklechurch Parish Council on Wednesday, February 20 (7.30pm) at the village community centre.

Boyd Valley ward councillors Steve Reade and Ben Stokes, who have been carrying out a survey of what people in the village think of the planned changes, said: "Like so many local residents, we were very concerned about the manner in which this announcement was made and whether this is a proposal that is subject to change or a decision that we're all simply being informed of.

“Many of the residents who responded to our survey wanted to find out more and so we are pleased that senior government officials have agreed to our request for a public meeting and we would encourage members of the community to attend.”

NOMS has confirmed that negotiations have begun with Serco Group plc, the contractors which manage and operate the institute, about the converting it to an adult prison.