Former North Wales hospital could be prison site

Aug 27 2008 By David Simister

North Wales Hospital

A DISUSED mental hospital in Denbigh could be transformed into a prison facility, the site’s owners have revealed this week.

Acebench Investments confirmed they have been approached by a number of parties interested in turning the former North Wales Hospital into a secure facility, following news that the Ministry of Justice is considering building a new facility in the region.

"We’ve recently been approached by a number of members of the local community with regards this idea. We’re still considering all options, but in the last few days we have had representatives from the Ministry come to Denbigh to take a look at the site" said Ayub Bhailock of Acebench, who own the disused hospital.

"The Ministry of Justice are looking for a new site in North Wales, and have also considered locations in Wrexham and Caernarfon. The main problem with the Wrexham site is the size of it, which means it would become a titan prison and would see inmates from England imported to fill it. The attraction of the Denbigh site is its previous history as a secure site, and also that it’s more central to North Wales than either Caernarfon or Wrexham."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice confirmed that government representatives had visited the site, although the department's website does not officially include the Denbigh building as one of its shortlisted candidates for the new prison.

"Ministry of Justice officials recently visited the site at Denbigh to find out more about it. The site will be assessed and a view about its potential reached at the end of the consultation period. As we said when the shortlist was published, we will look at any additional sites which are put forward in response to the public consultation" he said.

Mr Bhailock said that although Acebench are still looking at all options for the former hospital, which closed in 1995, they would definitely consider turning it into a prison provided the firm had the political willpower and support of the local community.

Denbigh councillor Colin Hughes believes that although the new plans are possible, any application to turn the site into a prison is potentially more complicated than its previous proposed use as a housing development.

"It’s not a straightforward proposal. I know there’s a need for a new prison in North Wales, but the decision needs to be taken by Denbigh and not enforced upon it. It would be great for the local economy but there is still the stigma of having a prison in the town. It needs to be up to the people of Denbigh" he said.

The proposed prison would also create up to 700 new jobs at the site as well as further employment to transform the current site, in what Mr Bhailock argues would be a boost for the local economy.

The North Wales Hospital site, which dates back to the 1840s, is currently registered as a Grade II listed building.