Controversial plans to build a new jail on the border of Chorley and Leyland could end up being decided in the High Court after campaigners launched a legal bid to block the project. As the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) revealed last week, locals opposed to the so-called “super prison” in the village of Ulnes Walton were trying to secure £10,000 in pledges to cover the cost of their challenge should it fail.
Having come close to reaching that target, the Ulnes Walton Action Group (UWAG) has now sought leave to appeal against the government’s decision to give the go-ahead to the category C facility, which would hold 1,715 inmates Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner approved the proposal last month, contrary to the recommendation of a planning inspector who chaired a public inquiry into the scheme – and who twice recommended that it should be refused permission.
Acting in her capacity as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ms. Rayner concluded that road safety risks posed by construction vehicles during the prison build – which were considered by the inspector, Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge, to be “unacceptable” – would actually be of “limited harm”. The six-week window for that decision to be contested closed this week and UWAG has submitted an application for permission to mount a judicial review.
The claim has been served on the government and the LDRS understands the Secretary of State now has 21 days to respond. Depending on the contents of that response, UWAG will be given 14 days to reply. The submissions will then go before a judge who will decide whether the case should be accepted and can be heard in the High Court.
UWAG says it is still seeking financial pledges to ensure it has the full amount needed to pay its legal bill if the challenge goes ahead but does not go its way. The organisation has been advised by lawyers it has a “50/50” chance of success.
Chorley Council first rejected the prison plans in December 2021, but the Ministry of Justice appealed against the authority’s decision.