As the Guardian reports here, Bullwood Hall Prison in Hockley is to be closed by this March.
This is obviously bad news for the staff who work there; we understand some may be offered transfers to other jails or to take voluntary redundancy packages.
It may also have an impact on the District Council’s core strategy. The Bullwood Hall site is a ‘brownfield site’ in the Green Belt. Although we can’t see the District Council giving a reprieve to Rawreth or to Hullbridge ,because the general locations have already been chosen. But this site could conceivably be used in the future, to avoid another site from being selected elsewhere.
I would rather the site was used for something that provides employment than housing. I see little point in building houses on former employment sites. Most of us Rochford District residents have to commute to other districts to work as it is.