It’s over ten years since Camp Hill prison was closed in 2013. The previous Conservative government made no decision on its long term future and that of the land around the prison.

With the election of a Labour government in July, I wrote to the new secretary of state for justice, Shabana Mahmood, urging her to make sure a decision is made as soon as possible. I also contacted Richard Quigley, the new Labour MP for Isle of Wight West constituency, to see if he could add pressure on the government.

I spoke to him last night (18 September 2024) about the need for a decision, and raised a question in Full Council with the leader of the council, Cllr Phil Jordan, asking that he use every opportunity to press for a decision.

As the prison site and much of the land are identified for housing and employment use in the draft Isle of Wight planning strategy, it is vital that we know its future.