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| Troop family fears ends jail plan | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A plan to convert a former barracks in Dover into an open prison has been abandoned because it would worry the families of soldiers fighting abroad. | |
| Home Secretary John Reid said on Friday he had made the decision after hearing "powerful arguments" against the prison from campaigners in the Kent town. | Home Secretary John Reid said on Friday he had made the decision after hearing "powerful arguments" against the prison from campaigners in the Kent town. |
| Families of soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan live near the barracks and their children go to school nearby. | Families of soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan live near the barracks and their children go to school nearby. |
| "That particular thing has weighed heavily on my mind," he said. | "That particular thing has weighed heavily on my mind," he said. |
| The barracks has been empty since the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment pulled out of Dover in April. | The barracks has been empty since the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment pulled out of Dover in April. |
| It is just fantastic that we have actually managed to change a government minister's view Campaigner Malcolm Scott | |
| The BBC first learned of a plan to convert it to an open prison in September and Dover District Council threatened legal action when the Home Office confirmed it. | The BBC first learned of a plan to convert it to an open prison in September and Dover District Council threatened legal action when the Home Office confirmed it. |
| Protesters feared the decision was a "done deal" after a governor was appointed, and Dover MP Gwyn Prosser told a public meeting attended by about 100 people his objections were "falling on deaf ears". | Protesters feared the decision was a "done deal" after a governor was appointed, and Dover MP Gwyn Prosser told a public meeting attended by about 100 people his objections were "falling on deaf ears". |
| Dr Reid said he had been under considerable pressure to find extra prison places across the country. | Dr Reid said he had been under considerable pressure to find extra prison places across the country. |
| But Mr Prosser and local protesters had raised a number of important issues about Connaught Barracks. | But Mr Prosser and local protesters had raised a number of important issues about Connaught Barracks. |
| "There is the presence locally of the families of those who are fighting abroad, and a school where the children of those who are facing terrible risks in Afghanistan and Iraq are being educated," Dr Reid said. | |
| He said the presence of a prison would add to their worries, which he was unwilling to do. | He said the presence of a prison would add to their worries, which he was unwilling to do. |
| Protest groups were quickly formed against the prison plans | |
| "The people of Dover can take it this is off the agenda," he said. | "The people of Dover can take it this is off the agenda," he said. |
| Mr Prosser said he was delighted the plan had been dropped. | Mr Prosser said he was delighted the plan had been dropped. |
| "The prison proposals have been well and truly poleaxed as a result of Dover's excellent campaign," he said. | "The prison proposals have been well and truly poleaxed as a result of Dover's excellent campaign," he said. |
| He paid tribute to organisers of the protest campaign, Malcolm Scott and Julia Bishop. | |
| "It is just fantastic news that we have actually managed to change a government minister's view," said Mr Scott. | |
| Councillor Paul Watkins, leader of Dover District Council said it was a victory for the "small guys". | |
| "We think John Reid has made the right decision." |