Mixed response as village jail is ditched

Aug 14 2008 by Michelle Coyle, North Wales Weekly News

CAMPAIGNERS against an 800-capacity prison in Llanfairfechan have breathed a sigh of relief after the village was ruled out as a possible site.

Bryn-y-Neuadd in Llanfairfechan had been lined up as a location for a new North Wales prison, but it is now likely to go to Caernarfon or Wrexham instead.

Despite the £17m investment and 1,800 jobs the development would bring, many people in Llanfairfechan have welcomed the news that the village is no longer in the running, with town councillors Gwyneth Thomas and Andrew Hinchliffe among them.

“I’m absolutely delighted that it’s not coming to Llanfairfechan,” said Cllr Thomas. “I don’t believe that the 1,800 jobs would have gone to Llanfairfechan residents.

“People would be employed from outside the area with local people only getting low-grade jobs. This is very good news for Llanfairfechan.”

Cllr Hinchliffe said while he sees the economic benefits of having a prison here, the social disadvantages would have been too much for a small village like Llanfairfechan.

Mayor Ray Jones admitted that while Llanfairfechan could have done with the employment boost, he too was glad about the decision.

“I am very relieved,” he said. “I feel that the knock-on effects of a prison would be too much for Llanfairfechan. We just don’t have the infrastructure to sustain a prison here.”

But other people are dismayed that Llanfairfechan has lost out on a regeneration boost.

Resident Janetta Jones said: “I’m very disappointed because this development would be wonderful for Llanfairfechan.

“A prison would have brought secure and well-paid jobs to local people. I can think of no possible disadvantages to having a prison here.

“Nimbies worrying about criminals running around loose are living in the realms of fantasy. They’ll have to find something else to be against now.”

Rhoda Lewis, of Pen y Bryn, is also disappointed. “I’d feel a lot safer if a prison were built here as there would be a strong police presence in the village,” she said.

“More police about would be a relief considering we have the medium secure unit here.”

While Llanfairfechan appears to have lost out, Caernarfon and Wrexham should be wary of celebrating an influx of jobs just yet. Work on the new prison, wherever it is built, is not expected to start until 2012.

michelle.coyle