Today I reveal evidence that the MOJ is relying on wide loads, to and from the prison construction site, forcing local residents and other road users off the road, to facilitate the new prison construction.

Last Wednesday in Prison Entrances And Access Road Analysed I confirmed that the official reason for the need for “temporary construction access” from Moor Lane was stated to be:

““to support the construction phase and to avoid construction traffic using the access to the existing high security prison .” and that it should state: “the access to the existing high security prison site.

The MOJ is now attempting to justify its statement made at Reserved Matters by claiming:

“The volume of traffic would disrupt the operation of the existing prison”

As the MOJ is suggesting that a few vehicles traveling on an empty road would disrupt the operation of the existing prison perhaps it could advise us mere mortals on this basis how:

1. Can prisons in cities operate when busy roads pass directly in front of the prison?
2. Can the current prison operate when transporting inmates via any road junction?
3. Will the current prison function when staff and visitors to the new prison are using the access?

The MOJ is clearly talking utter bunkum.

We should move on to the real issue – Why is the MOJ relying on wide loads to and from the prison construction site forcing local residents and other road users off the road?

Departing Full Sutton – Monday 16 May 09.51

Upon leaving Full Sutton at 09.51 yesterday morning I witnessed other road users being forced off the road due to the wide load approaching.

Given that there will be well over a thousand such wide loads accessing and leaving the new prison construction site over the next three years this situation is neither acceptable nor practicable.

In the photos above, there are two cars, one HGV and a van blocking the access to the current prison site along with the van for the stop/go system further obstructing access.

The MOJ MUST accept that such obstruction disrupts the operation of the existing prison a damn sight more than a few HGVs using “the access to the existing high security prison site.

Would that demonstrate a need for emergency exit? Please see Prison Entrances And Access Road Analysed?

Road Closures

To bring such a volume of wide loads to the construction site the MOJ MUST apply for the appropriate road closures via due process. Until such time as said closures are in place no more wide loads should be allowed to the site.

What If?

What would happen if other road users refused to be forced into the hedge bottom and remain near the white line on their side of the road?

Looking into the tea leaves I would suggest that could result in the construction site ceasing to operate.

But of course, as always, I know nowt.