Prison would scare off developers

A WARRINGTON councillor has dismissed claims that the town’s economy would receive a £15 million boost if a Titan Prison was built on the giant Omega development site.
Coun Jo Crotty – the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South – says a prison would frighten off other potential business users.
The claim that Warrington’s economy would receive a £15 million boost and about 1,000 jobs was made by Justice Secretary Jack Straw, in a letter to the leader of Warrington Borough Council, Ian Marks.
Coun Crotty (pictured) said: “After months of ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’ from the Labour Government, Jack Straw has finally come clean and confirmed that the Omega Business Park site is being considered for the building of a Titan Prison.
“This follows a secret visit to the Omega site in November by Jack Straw which led to heightened suspicions that Warrington was being considered for a Titan Prison.
“In the letter Mr Straw says: ‘We believe that a strong case for the economic benefit for the local area can be made for the building of a new prison.’
“Jack Straw seems to be ignoring the fact that the original plan for the Omega Business Park site would create 25,000 high-tech jobs for Warrington and offer a much bigger economic benefit to the town than a Titan-Prison.
“The idea of a Titan Jail for the Omega Business Park is likely to put other business occupiers off from moving to the site.
“It is now crystal clear that all doubts about whether the Labour Government was considering the Omega Business Park for a Titan Jail can now be removed. In the light of this revelation we will be redoubling our campaign against this totally inappropriate proposal.
“I would urge people to sign our petition against the Titan Jail on my website at www.jocrotty.org.uk and to listen out for the next moves in our campaign to say ‘No to the Titan Prison'”.