PLANS to build a new 'superjail' in Peterhead could be two years behind schedule, it has been revealed.
When he spoke exclusively to the Buchanie in November last year, governor Michael Stoney said the planned HMP Grampian could be up and running by April 2013.
But answers to Parliamentary Questions have shown that the Scottish Government has not ye
t applied for planning permission and that contracts for construction won't be put out to tender until permission has been granted.
In a correspondence with SPS interim chief executive Willie Pretswell, Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes revealed that construction work was not expected to begin until 2012.
A Scottish Prison Service Spokesperson defended the timescale for the prison, telling the Buchanie: "The infrastructure plan made it clear that the construction dates for HMP Grampian were provisional. It is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted later this year."
But Alison McInnes slammed the delays, saying it was simply not good enough, claiming: "After the damning official report into HMP Aberdeen's facilities in late 2008, I wrote to the Justice Secretary calling for urgent improvements to the workshops to make sure that offenders could be properly rehabilitated.
"The Prison Service's response was to refuse to make any such improvements as the north east would soon have a new prison. But answers to my Parliamentary Questions show that the project is now likely to be badly delayed. The Scottish Government needs to explain why it's dragging its feet.
"The North-east is struggling on with substandard facilities and it's simply not good enough."
When complete, the new superjail could see the number of inmates rise from 306 to 500.
The new prison will be built on the same South Road site it currently stands, but will be split into three separate buildings. The footprint of the new prison will be approximately 30% of the current estate.
HMP Peterhead is currently a specialist centre for sex offenders, but the new prison will cater for criminals from throughout the Grampian region who have committed a range of crimes.
Speaking previously to the Buchanie, Mr Stoney explained the new prison will be in the model of a community prison, saying: "The new prison will look at what the prisoners can do for the community. Essentially we will look at re-integrating people into society.
"We are trying to create a positive process rather than a destructive one. The new model community prison will be about looking at what the community can do for the prisoners, as well as what the prisoners can do for the community.
"I'm here to say let's push the boundaries that need to be pushed."
