Crotty claims victory as Straw retreats over Titan

11.29.04am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Apr 2009

Jo Crotty has declared a victory for local residents as Jack Straw scraps plans for Titan prisons.

Warrington South Liberal Democrat Prospective MP Jo Crotty is today declaring victory in the campaign to stop the Labour Government's plans for a Titan prison on the Omega Business Park in Warrington. Justice Minister Jack Straw confirmed this morning that plans for a Titan prison in Warrington, as well as the whole Titan building programme, would be scrapped.

The news comes as the government looks to make plans to implement public spending cuts following this week's Budget. It also follows a visit by Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg MP to meet local campaigners at the site. Mr Clegg is the only party leader to have visited the proposed Titan prison location.

However, Straw has also cited the strength of opposition from local anti-Titan campaigns, such as those led by Jo Crotty and the Liberal Democrats and the community group Warrington Residents Against Prison Plan (WRAPP), together with the objections of prison reform groups, as the reason for his u-turn.

While Dr Crotty hailed the announcement as a victory for local residents she also sounded a note of caution.

"I am pleased that Jack Straw and the Labour Government have finally listened to the thousands of local residents here in Warrington and scrapped their plans for a Titan prison on the Omega Business Park," said Dr Crotty.

"This is a victory for all those who added their voice to our campaign and told Jack Straw a Titan prison in Warrington was totally unacceptable.

"However, we still need to be cautious, the Labour Government is still planning a series of five, 1500 inmate prisons to be built throughout the country and they could target Warrington once more. I would hope that Jack Straw and the Labour Government have learnt from their mistakes and in future they will pursue an open process and consult with the communities most affected by the building of new prisons, before making a decision, instead of carrying out their plans in secret.

"This remains an important victory, however, for Warrington's campaign. The Liberal Democrats have always campaigned against Titan prisons throughout the country - not just in Warrington.

"The announcement by the Government today acknowledges the strength of the opposition from local people as well as a range of prison reform groups that back up what we have been saying throughout. The fact is that Titan prisons do not work. Bigger prisons cause bigger problems.

"Although Jack Straw has not admitted to the failings of Titan prisons, at the very least I am pleased he has bowed to the wishes of local people here in Warrington that a Titan prison on Omega would be a disaster."