CHESHIRE West and Chester Council (CWAC) has confirmed that Winsford Industrial Estate is being ‘explored’ by the Government with a view to potentially building a prison.

The Government asked all councils to identify sites for a potential prison and CWAC responded with two sites, both in Winsford.

The Government has now responded to CWAC, informing the council of its intention to ‘explore’ the site at the industrial estate. It is not known where the other site identified in Winsford is.

Cllr Brian Clarke, cabinet member for infrastructure and economic development, said: “In February 2016 the Government asked all councils to respond to an information request to identify sites across the country that might be suitable for its plans to modernise the prison estate.

“In response to this request, the council reviewed a number of potential locations across the borough and only two sites, both in Winsford, met the majority of the Government’s criteria.

“The Government recently notified us of its intention to explore one site, identified in the Neighbourhood Plan as employment land at Winsford Industrial Estate, in further detail.

“We were asked to keep this information confidential until the Government Minister had formally briefed the local MP and Council Leader. This has taken place in the last few days.”

The statement from Cllr Clarke came following an announcement from Eddisbury MP Antoinette Sandbach, who decided to go public yesterday to tell the community that CWAC had ‘expressed interest’ in building a prison in Winsford Industrial Estate.

Ms Sandbach criticised the council for not consulting the public.

Cllr Clarke added: “Claims that the council is planning to build a prison in Winsford are inaccurate and misleading.

“We would emphasise that this is very much a scoping exercise and in no way represents a commitment by either the Government or the council to build a prison on the site.

“Should Winsford be identified as a preferred location, any development would be subject to the full and usual regulatory process and public consultation.”

Cllr Clarke also highlighted benefits for Winsford, if a prison was to be built in the industrial estate.

“The Government is clear about the numerous benefits for local communities of building a new prison. A 2013 study showed that a new, large prison could provide an annual £22m boost to the local economy and create around 1,000 local jobs.

“For instance, the current 2,100 place North Wales Prison building project in Wrexham, where construction commenced in autumn 2014, has already led to £27.1m worth of local business.”

Ms Sandbach has launched a petition to prevent a prison being built in the town. Sign your name on the petition by going to petitions.com/petition/call-on-cwacc-to-consult-on-prison.