Prisoners get a lie-in as quarry construction forced to start later
Bosses at HMP Stoke Heath in Shropshire convinced Grundon Sand & Gravel to start work late on Saturdays so they don't disturb inmates' 'quality of life'.
Prisoners at the category C jail are allowed to lie-in beyond 7.30am on a Saturday and governors were worried the noisy blasting work would disrupt their sleep.
Shropshire council approved the plans after adjustments were made to the application, including limiting its operating hours.
The prison had objected to the original proposals after the firm applied for permission to extend its quarry in Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire, last August.
Cushman & Wakefield, on behalf of HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) wrote: 'HMPPS have particular concerns regarding the proposed hours of working on Saturdays where operations are expected to take place from 7am – 1pm.
'From Monday to Friday, prisoners are woken up at 7.30am for activities at the establishment, which include the employment opportunities that some of the prisoners are involved in.
'On Saturdays, prisoners are permitted to sleep in beyond 7.30am.
'HMPPS are therefore concerned that prisoners are likely to experience some level of disruption to their sleep from the operations taking place on Saturdays from 7am, and this could potentially impact their amenity and quality of life.'
Construction plans predict the extraction of about 1.2 million tonnes of sand and gravel from the site over a period of 15 years at a rate of around 80,000 tonnes each year.
It also outlined plans to use the site as a solar farm while quarrying is underway, partly to provide power for the site, but also to supply electricity back to the grid.
The proposal was put before Shropshire Council's northern planning committee this week, where councillors voted unanimously to grant planning permission.
As a result of HMPPS concerns, the quarry will be unable to operate before 9am on Saturdays, with no operations taking place on Sunday.
Approving the plan, the local planning officer said: 'The potential impacts on the local area, which includes an RAF facility, a young offenders institution and dwellings, can be mitigated and minimised to an acceptable level through site management controls which can be secured by planning conditions.
'There would be some impacts on the local area due to the nature of the proposal, such as from the visibility of the operation and additional traffic levels.
'However, it is considered that these would be mitigated to an acceptable level when balanced against the benefits of the proposal.
'These benefits include the creation of five full-time jobs directly, with a further six part-time indirect positions, a significant level of biodiversity net gain, and the provision of renewable energy from solar panels.'
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