The cross-party group will be hosting representatives from the Ministry of Justice at a public meeting that has been organised by Stephen Kinnock MP. The meeting will be taking place on Wednesday 20th September at 7pm, in the Aberavon Beach Hotel.
Attending to give updates will be Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon, David Rees, AM for Aberavon, Bethan Jenkins, AM for South Wales West, and the Port Talbot Community Super Prison Protest Group. The Ministry of Justice will be sending representatives to the meeting.
Commenting on the meeting, Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon said:
“This public meeting will be a key opportunity for the public to hear the latest updates on the proposed prison and our campaign against it in this unsuitable location.
I am pleased that my persistence in pushing the Ministry of Justice to attend the meeting has paid off and although the minster, Sam Gyimah will not be attending, he will be sending two representatives – I hope they hear the concerns and points raised by the public at the meeting”
David Rees, Labour Assembly Member for Aberavon said:
“This meeting will give local people the latest news on the proposal to build a new prison including the weaknesses in the case being put forward by the Ministry of Justice. People tell me that what we need is more economic regeneration in Port Talbot and the enterprise zone was established to bring business into town in order to strengthen our economy. This proposal does not fit into that agenda and I will continue to lead the call for the Welsh Government not to release this land to the Ministry of Justice as this location is totally inappropriate for a prison.
I have written to the Welsh Government asking the First minister to attend the meeting to listen to the strong arguments being put forward by local people and businesses and urge him to accept this invitation.”
Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West:
“I’m pleased that this campaign has become a true, cross party effort, uniting so many people across Port Talbot against this prison. Having began work on this issue in March, it’s wonderful to see that we have been able to engage so many people already and bring a real focus to the enormous and possibly irreversible drawbacks building this prison would bring. But we have much more work to do. I hope as many people as possible can attend this meeting, as they have at other meetings earlier this year, and have their questions answered.”
Chair of the Campaign Group Jill Miles said:
“As chair of the community protest group I urge the residents of Port Talbot to please attend this meeting for an update on the proposed prison on Baglan Moors.
The group be providing a campaign update at the meeting, and will provide details of our plans to deliver our petition to the Welsh Government and to lobby the Ministry of Justice in London, if you have not yet signed paper petitions will be available on the evening”