A PRISON on the site of the former Agecroft Power Station will completely regenerate the area, a public inquiry has been told.

Mr Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC, for the Prison Service, was speaking at the opening o f the inquiry into plans for an 800-place, category-B prison.

He told the inquiry in Swinton on Tuesday, that a modern, well-designed and landscaped prison has been found to be a good neighbour in the urban fringe.

"The prison would be an improvement to the area," he said. "The power station was a blot on the landscape, and the prison would be a major gain."

He added that the sceme would boost the local economy by £88m and create around 840 jobs during construction and 540 jobs plus an injection into the local community of around £8m per year during operation.

But opponents of the plans claimed the benefits would be far outweighed by the damage a prison would bring to the area.

In his opening submission, Mr Andrew Gilbart QC, representing Salford City and Bury Councils, said he was not arguing that there was no need for another prison, but that "this is the wrong site".

Mr Gilbart pointed out that the Irwell Valley suffered badly during the 19th and 20th centuries from the effects of industrialisation.

"What should have been a major green lung for the population of the conurbation became a polluted backwater with a colliery, waste tips and the power station," he said.

"For the first time in several decades the demolition of the station means the chance exists for a use which contributes to the valley, or at least does not detract from its qualities."

He said the prison would be seen as a group of large utilitarian buildings surrounded by substantial security barriers and lighting.

Mrs Liz Maxfield, of the Campaign Against the Proposed Prison at Agecroft (CAPPA), said the plan would decimate a beautiful valley.

She added: "Everyone has looked forward for years to the cooling towers coming down and the area to be regenerated.

"To build a prison, so close to a residential area would mean we would be trapped in our homes."

Mr Geoff Brown, Department of Environment inspector, said the inquiry was expected to last until next Friday.

The Prison Service's evidence was expected to be completed by yesterday evening, and the councils' evidence by next Wednesday.

Local residents and other objectors are due to speak next Thursday when both David Sumberg, MP for Bury South, and Gary Titley, MEP for the area, are expected to give evidence against the proposal.

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