'A matter of urgency' - MP calls on Minister for meeting over Ulnes Walton 'super prison' road concerns
South Ribble’s MP has called for solutions.
Work has begun on a new ‘super prison’ near Leyland - but already road issues are causing problems for neighbours.
South Ribble MP Paul Foster - who spoke out against plans for the 1,700–1,715 inmate prison in Ulnes Walton - said he has been contacted by numerous people with serious concerns about road safety, access and construction traffic linked to the new prison.
The area’s third prison - to sit beside HMP Garth and HMP Wymott - was given the go-ahead in December 2024 by deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, despite her agreement with a planning inspector that road safety concerns had not been “fully resolved".
Now Mr Foster has raised the issue in Parliament - asking for a meeting with the Secretary of State for Justice “as a matter of urgency”.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Foster said: “Despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending refusal, a third prison is under construction at Ulnes Walton in my South Ribble constituency.
“Unfortunately, the local community has been hugely impacted by issues around access, highway safety and vehicle movements—the very reasons refusal was originally recommended. Will the Minister please meet me as a matter of urgency to discuss how we can develop solutions for the benefit of the Ulnes Walton community? “
“Good neighbours”
Alex Norris replied: “The importance of new prison places in this country has been well rehearsed...Nevertheless, I believe strongly that we must be good neighbours, both in the operation of prisons and in their construction, and I also feel very strongly about our liability through our contractors.
“I believe that I am already planning to meet my hon. Friend on another important matter, and I will ensure that we talk about this point too, because I want to make sure that we are good neighbours with his constituents.”
What road concerns were raised?
A public inquiry into building the prison revealed that upto 200 HGVs a day could use Ulnes Walton Lane during construction - and that there are 690m out of 1,500m where HGVs cannot pass each other when travelling in opposite directions.
This gives only two options for heavy goods drivers should they meet in that scenario: reverse or pull onto the verge. The inquiry was warned that there were safety implications of both those actions on a route well-used by cyclists and where pedestrians also walked.
This is what the inspector had to say about three of the four issues that Angela Rayner considered unresolved:
Construction traffic
The problem: Increased volume of heavy goods traffic on Ulnes Walton Lane during construction of the prison.
The plan: Improvements at both the junctions with the A581 Southport Road and Moss Lane.
A581/Ulnes Walton Lane junction:
The problem: ability of the existing T-junction to cope.
The plan: new mini-roundabout to be installed.
Safety of Ulnes Walton Lane and its junction with Moss Lane
The problem: speed along the route and speed and visibility at the junction
The plan: traffic calming measures around the junction