Relief as Mill Street probation centre plans dropped (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

Relief as Mill Street probation centre plans dropped

February 12, 2010 9:21 PM
Originally published by Dr Evan Harris

Evan Harris today welcomed the news that plans for a new mega Probation centre on Mill Street have been dropped.

For much of the last year, the Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon has campaigned with local residents' group WOCAMP to stop this centre from being built in such an unsuitable area.

Following sustained protests and objections, in September the owners and developers announced that they were pulling out of consideration for the Probation Service.

Today Thames Valley Probation service announced that they had found a new location next to the Police Station on St Aldates for an interim four-year contract.

Reacting to the news, Dr Harris said: "I am pleased that the hard work of the local community has paid off. We have been arguing for months that the Mill Street site is wholly inappropriate for such large-scale development, particularly as it is at the far end of a narrow residential street.

"I am very relieved that the probation service have finally seen sense and are choosing a more practical area. I will be watching closely to ensure that the Trajan House site is not subsequently used for this purpose.

"Nevertheless, the fact is that a massive regional centralisation of probation services is nothing to celebrate. This decision has come about because of cuts to already overstretched budgets. And these cuts will have a big negative impact: probation services are the front line in efforts to stop reoffending and reintegrate offenders back into the community. You can't cut crime if you cut probation."