The news that comes after the Welsh Government have said it would not support plans
to open any new prisons in Wales unless "meaningful" talks were held
with the UK government.is welcome.
It emerged last year that the UK government was planning a new Category C prison for up to 1,600 prisoners on undeveloped land in Baglan Moors.
The planned site, which is in an enterprise zone on land owned by the Welsh Government, has been criticised for being too close to schools and residential properties.
Labour ministers have faced pressure not to sell the land to the UK government - the Welsh Government's stance means it is unlikely the Baglan plan will get Welsh Government support unless concerns are addressed.
Yesterday I jokingly offered an explanation.
Whilst that may not be the reason I suspect the timing of the announcement may be connected to the proposed renaming of the Second Severn Crossing to in that, the First Minister Carwyn Jones may have been stung by the negative reaction to the proposed change which he had personally not raised any objections,
In a statement released earlier on Friday public services minister Alun Davies said:
Kinnock said prisons minister Rory Stewart had told him he had taken
note of the strength of opposition to open a prison at Baglan Moors.
However his comments came after the Ministry of Justice said it remained committed to the proposal.
The ministry said it was sticking to its statement after the MP shared the account of his meeting on Friday.
Which looks like Mr Kinnock statement seems to be over egging his contribution.
Aberavon MP Kinnock who I believe opposition is the site where the Prison is earmarked rather than whether Wales needs a new prison of that capacity,said he and campaigners met with minister Mr Stewart last week.
He said:
Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Sayed, who has led much of the campaign against the prison not out of nimbyism in that unlike Mr Kinnock she does not want the prison foisted on another constituency o said she believed the Baglan Moors prison would not now go ahead.
She said:
Whilst a Westminster MP tries to gain credit for this news and Welsh Government Minister Alun Davies seems to be using he proposed prison as a bargaining counter with the Westminster government it looks like Bethan Sayeed will have to keep her eye on the ball.
If the result is that no new "Super Prison" is imposed on Wales then Bethan can and should claim much of the credit.
Lets face it neither Unionist Mps like Stephen Kinnock, and both the Westminster Tory and Welsh Labour government can be trusted on this.
Events this Week has shown that Wales needs a overgarment that resists the quasi-colonialism of both Tories nd Labour and we can start by seeing the likes of Bethan Sayed, being part of a Plaid Cymru government in Cardiff bay,
It emerged last year that the UK government was planning a new Category C prison for up to 1,600 prisoners on undeveloped land in Baglan Moors.
The planned site, which is in an enterprise zone on land owned by the Welsh Government, has been criticised for being too close to schools and residential properties.
Labour ministers have faced pressure not to sell the land to the UK government - the Welsh Government's stance means it is unlikely the Baglan plan will get Welsh Government support unless concerns are addressed.
Yesterday I jokingly offered an explanation.
Glyn Morris @glynbeddau
Glyn Morris Retweeted Bethan Sayed AM/AC🏴Rumours that the Welsh Labour Government have changed their minds, because they were told it was not going to be called The Prince of Wales Prison, are apparently not true.
Whilst that may not be the reason I suspect the timing of the announcement may be connected to the proposed renaming of the Second Severn Crossing to in that, the First Minister Carwyn Jones may have been stung by the negative reaction to the proposed change which he had personally not raised any objections,
In a statement released earlier on Friday public services minister Alun Davies said:
"I am concerned that without a meaningful an in-depth discussion with the UK government, we will continue to see increasing demand on Welsh public services and poorer outcomes for people in the criminal justice system in Wales."He added:
"Until we have considered this in more detail and had more detailed discussions with the UK government, I do not believe it is in the interests either of the Welsh Government or people in Wales, to see further prison development in Wales."
For some reason Aberavon MP (where the proposed prison was planned) Stephen
Kinnock has claimed that thePlans for a controversial super-prison in Port Talbot have been put on hold by the UK government.
However his comments came after the Ministry of Justice said it remained committed to the proposal.
The ministry said it was sticking to its statement after the MP shared the account of his meeting on Friday.
Which looks like Mr Kinnock statement seems to be over egging his contribution.
Aberavon MP Kinnock who I believe opposition is the site where the Prison is earmarked rather than whether Wales needs a new prison of that capacity,said he and campaigners met with minister Mr Stewart last week.
He said:
"The minister made it clear that he had listened carefully to the concerns and arguments that we had been making for some time, and had therefore decided to place further plans for the construction of a prison in Baglan on hold.
"He also made it clear that the MoJ remains committed to building a new prison in South Wales, and it was agreed that we would work with him and the Welsh Government to identify a viable alternative site or sites."
He said he hoped it was "just a case of crossed wires inside the department".
Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Sayed, who has led much of the campaign against the prison not out of nimbyism in that unlike Mr Kinnock she does not want the prison foisted on another constituency o said she believed the Baglan Moors prison would not now go ahead.
She said:
"We've been pressing for the Welsh Government to see the light on this, and it looks like they now have, albeit after a year of mixed messages and indecision. I'm sure that the local campaign in Port Talbot against a new prison, has certainly gone a long way to influence the Welsh Government as well."
Whilst a Westminster MP tries to gain credit for this news and Welsh Government Minister Alun Davies seems to be using he proposed prison as a bargaining counter with the Westminster government it looks like Bethan Sayeed will have to keep her eye on the ball.
If the result is that no new "Super Prison" is imposed on Wales then Bethan can and should claim much of the credit.
Lets face it neither Unionist Mps like Stephen Kinnock, and both the Westminster Tory and Welsh Labour government can be trusted on this.
Events this Week has shown that Wales needs a overgarment that resists the quasi-colonialism of both Tories nd Labour and we can start by seeing the likes of Bethan Sayed, being part of a Plaid Cymru government in Cardiff bay,
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