Wethersfield 'mega prison' campaign group to meet with council

The group, known as SWAP (Stop Wethersfield Airfield Prisons), was formed in December, after a few weeks of planning.

They are due to meet with Braintree Council on Monday, posing virtual questions regarding the prison proposal.

It will be the first time the newly-formed group will be meeting with the council directly.

Alan MacKenzie is the Chairman of SWAP, after putting himself forward and being voted due to experience in previous campaigns.

He said: “I put my hand up due to my experience in the past and was voted in.

“This is an important issue; it goes against so many policies at MoJ and Braintree Council level.”

The group was formed last week, and currently has 22 members and growing.

It is a collective of community residents who are concerned about the proposals that were first put forward by the Ministry of Justice at the end of September.

Alan spoke about the major worry the group has.

He said: “Number one has to be the inadequacy of the road network.

“We are miles away from an A road or the M11 and there is next to no public transport.

“There will be ten years’ worth of HGV traffic coming through small country lanes, and it goes straight past the primary school.

“Not even mentioning the damage to environment and historical buildings in the area.”

SWAP’s aim is not only to prevent the proposal but think about what should happen instead.

“It could have a solar park, discovery centre to encourage tourism, anything,” said Alan.

“There are a horde of alternatives which are far more suitable for the environment and locality than a prison.”

The hope is that the meeting with the council on Monday helps them change their mind.

Alan said: “We are hoping that Braintree Council will go away and reconsider their position on the proposal.

“They should be already saying it, as it goes against all of the local plan and emerging local plan and is totally unsupportable.”

The meeting with the council is on Monday December 13 at 7.15pm.