ANTOINETTE Sandbach MP has blown the whistle on council plans to build a prison in Winsford.

The Member of Parliament for Eddisbury has held meetings with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) surrounding plans to build a prison on Winsford Industrial Estate, and has now spoken out about her ‘fury’ with the plans.

The plans are at an early stage with Ms Sandbach explaining that the council has expressed interest in putting the prison on the industrial estate, but the MP has criticised the council for not consulting with residents or even Winsford ward councillors.

Ms Sandbach said: “I am furious that the Labour-run Cheshire West and Chester Council would take such a decision and press ahead with plans for a prison in Winsford without talking to local residents, consulting or even having the common courtesy to ask local people what they want and discuss their priorities for the town.

“When it comes to our industrial space we need to use this to attract more well-paying jobs and good quality industry to the town, a prison does not fit with any level of high ambition for our towns future.

“I expressed my concern personally to the prison minister, Andrew Selous. I wasn’t consulted before they put forward their proposals.

“It’s not in the Neighbourhood Plan and it was one of the first plans to go through in the country. It was an ambitious plan and this will completely undermine the ambitions and aspirations of the plan.

“To try and sneak this in without consulting with Winsford residents or even CWAC ward members for Winsford such as Cllr Mike Baynham, is totally ridiculous.”

It is unknown at this stage what category the prison will be.

The Winsford MP states she is ‘completely opposed’ to a prison being built in Winsford and has called on residents to sign a petition to reject any future plans and to develop a proper industrial strategy in its place.

The petition can be found at ipetitions.com/petition/call-on-cwacc-to-consult-on-prison Details of the petition can also be found on Antoinette Sandbach’s Facebook page.

Cheshire West and Chester Council were unavailable for comment at the time The Guardian went to press.