Ahead of each Parliamentary recess there is a debate where MPs can raise any issue of concern. There having been no natural debate to bring up the outrageous plans for a new Category C resettlement prison next to HMP Spring Hill and HMP Grendon in recent weeks, I used my three minutes to get my opposition to these plans on the record.
A key thrust of my argument is that there should be a new provision that areas impacted by state infrastructure should be exempt from any more. That, I argued, is a case of simple fairness and natural justice (whilst once more making the case that HS2 should be scrapped too).
Last night I Chaired a Zoom public meeting on this and there are a number of public exhibitions coming up to empower everyone locally with the way to formally object to the planning application. These will be in local village halls on 4th August (Grendon Underwood), 6th August (Edgcott) and 10th August (Steeple Claydon). Once again this is an exercise in people power, getting relevant planning objections into the Council. The local parish councils will be publishing a toolkit shortly on how to object, which I will also share as soon as it is ready.
