AN ACTION group in Cwmbran has been launched to protest against proposals to build a new prison in the town.

The Ministry of Justice announced on August 6 that the 39-acre former police training college on Greenmeadow Way, is one of four potential sites for a new closed Welsh prison for up to 1,500 inmates.

The “Oppose the Prison Action Group”, which consists of a nucleus of 30 protesters including local residents and two Torfaen county councillors, say they will fight the plans with a series of organised protests.

A consultation on the proposals is now open until October 31.

Torfaen councillors, Elizabeth Haynes and Catherine Lewis are leading the Action Group.

Cllr Haynes confirmed that the first protest was likely to be outside the former police training college and has called on residents concerned about the prison to start preparing for it.

She said: “Now is the time for residents who want to protest to start getting ready and make their protest banners.

“This period of consultation is going to go very quickly, so we need to act fast and decisively as we only have one shot at stopping this prison coming to the town.”

The Action Group also contains St Dials residents Lorain and Victor Haynes (no relation to Cllr Elizabeth Haynes), who announced last week they want to organise a protest march through Cwmbran.

As well as the planned protests a community petition has been formulated by the Greenmeadow and St Dials Residents Association against the proposals and passed around a variety of community associations, shops, and social clubs across Cwmbran.

Anyone who wants to join the Oppose the Prison Action Group should contact Cllr Haynes on 01633 870119 or Cllr Lewis on 01633 766557.