PLANS to increase the capacity of Leyhill Prison by more than half have been approved, despite fears about more criminals absconding.
South Gloucestershire Council has given the Ministry of Justice planning permission to build two new houseblocks at the Category D open jail near Thornbury.
The ministry says each one will have capacity to house 120 inmates. They are in addition to 97 rapid deployment cells (RDCs), modular units designed to add prison capacity quickly, which it is already planning to deploy at Leyhill.
The prison currently has an operational capacity of 474 inmates, and the new additions would increase that figure to 811 – up 71%.
The expansion was approved by the council’s development management committee in March.
Planning officers said the committee should not look into how the prison operates – but councillors heard how absconding prisoners impacted people living nearby.
‘Criminals just walk out and commit offences’
Cromhall Parish Council’s planning lead, Cyrus Contractor, said: “As far as the community is concerned, Leyhill is really not just an open prison, it’s actually a porous prison.
“There is a quantity of absconds which goes back over five years, of criminals just basically walking out and committing offences.
“These are criminals with some very serious crimes under their belt. These are murderers, attempted murderers, rapists, paedophiles, GBH and various levels of assault.
“Actual day-to-day pressure on our community is significant as a result of the existence of the prison.
“We have to conduct our lives with greater awareness and caution because of these absconds.”
‘You’re approving violence in our community’
Cllr Contractor raised concerns the increase in prison population could lead to more prisoners absconding and committing crimes, and called for more safety measures to protect nearby residents.
He said: “If you approve this application you are in fact approving additional violence in our community.
“I know that sounds accusatory and a horrible, bold statement but it really is a piece of simple mathematics.
“There should be no absconds. The fact that we have to put up with two to three a year, and assaults on people in our community, is abhorrent.”
The prison houses men coming to the end of long sentences or serving short sentences.
The government says expansion is needed as the country’s prison population is forecast to increase over the next decade and there is a nationwide shortage of places.
On New Year’s Day three prisoners – Matthew Armstrong, 35, Daniel Washbourne, 40, and Aaron Thomas, 39 – absconded from Leyhill.
Thomas was rearrested two days later in Bristol but Armstrong and Washbourne stayed at large for six days.
Washbourne, who was serving a life sentence for violence against a person and false imprisonment, and Thomas, who was serving an indeterminate sentence for arson, were sentenced to an extra six months each in February after they admitted escaping lawful custody. They are now being held in closed prisons.
Armstrong remains in custody, awaiting trial on a robbery charge in relation to an incident in a village near Leyhill on New Year’s Eve.
‘Vital role’ for open prisons
Katrina Hulse, a planning agent representing the Ministry of Justice, told councillors: “Category D performs a vital role in the prison service helping to rehabilitate prisoners, preparing them for their re-entry into society. The MoJ is embarking on an ambitious programme of prison expansion, delivering over 20,000 additional prison places.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told the Voice no timescale has been set for building the permanent houseblocks, which would provide 240 additional places at Leyhill. The national roll-out of RDCs started in February, with 97 of the modular cells to be delivered to the prison.
The spokesperson said: “We are delivering the biggest jail expansion programme since the Victorian era – with more than 3,100 new places delivered since July 2024, and 5,000 more under construction.”
Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service