Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown has raised the ongoing issue of noise and disruption coming from Cornton Vale prison with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance in the Scottish Parliament’s Debating Chamber. 

This follows on from a long list of actions taken by the MSP to support residents living near the prison grounds, including contacting the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Scottish Prison Service by letter, and sending them a further letter when it emerged last week that their action plan to respond to the communities concerns was not working as intended. 

A public meeting was initially organised for Monday 23rd of October, with the intention of all relevant stakeholders being present in order to forge a way forward. However, the meeting fell through at the last minute, as the Scottish Prison Service, perhaps the most essential part of responding to these concerns, would not attend.

On Wednesday, 25th of October the MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane raised this in the chamber with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice Angela Constance. 

Keith Brown MSP’s question, and supplementary question: 

“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the action plan put in place by the Scottish Prison Service to address reported concerns raised by local residents about HMP Stirling.”

“As she will be aware from my most recent correspondence on this matter, I continue to receive contact from constituents who are being adversely impacted by noise and incidents at the Prison. Unfortunately, SPS would not attend a meeting with my constituents to discuss the situation on Monday night which was subsequently cancelled. I do understand they have agreed to attend a future meeting. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that SPS should meet with local people as a matter of urgency to address their concerns?”

Commenting, SNP MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, Keith Brown, said: 

“I’ve been working alongside local residents on this issue since it was first raised towards the end of the summer. 

“I very much welcomed the news that an action plan was in place; however, it has since emerged that this plan is not as effective as had been hoped. 

“I’ve therefore contacted both the SPS and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice a second time and raised it directly with the Cabinet Secretary in Parliament today. 

“I was equally disappointed to learn that the planned meeting on Monday did not go ahead, as SPS chose not to confirm their attendance. Public bodies like SPS should be accountable to the public. 

“I am calling on SPS to re-consider this position, and that is why I raised this specific point in my follow up question to the Cabinet Secretary.”