Northleach Prison
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Progress Report February 2012
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An overwhelming 1200 people who live in our district, or love the Cotswolds, signed the petition asking for time (up to December 31st 2012) for a rescue plan and a re-think on the fate of the Old Prison site, and the nationally important rural collections in CDC care.

On February 28th, at 10 am, at the Council Chamber, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX ,
all 44 councillors of Cotswold District Council will have the chance to debate whether to give the time, and encourage a rescue package.

Please come to CDC at Cirencester on Feb 28th and back the call for more time and to favour a rescue.

  • Pulhams’ Coaches are providing coaches to go to CDC, picking up at the Old Prison at 9.10 a.m and the market square in Northleach at 9.20 a.m. First come first served and prompt departure....read more.

Diana Ray

Petition Update
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Good News! The petition asking Cotswold District Council (CDC) to postpone the sale of the Old Prison for 12 months and re think was submitted on January 12. Thanks to efforts of so many local champions the e-petition and paper petition combined have reached over 1200 signatures.

Over 400 from Northleach itself, but many too from nearby small villages, and right across the district and nearby areas. During Christmas we carefully checked to make sure that within the signatures we have well exceeded the 850 within the CDC boundary to qualify a call for a debate by CDC full council.

I am waiting to hear what the CDC process will be. This is a great achievement by the Northleach community as a first step.

Diana Ray

Cotswold District Council put The Old Prison on the Market.
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Letter from Diana Ray... November 2011
 
This is simply a  letter to ask you to take a few minutes to support the campaign to ask Cotswold District Council (CDC) to postpone the sale of the Old Prison at Northleach, and allow people time to have a say on what happens to an internationally significant piece of our heritage. This Old Prison is part of our community heritage, and has great potential. Losing it could seriously harm the local economy, and Northleach town.
 

Follow this link to sign the e-petition.
850 signatures are needed to bring the decision back for serious debate by councillors. 
 
As a concerned resident of the district, my view is it should not be sold out of public control. But what ever happens, I think local people should be allowed to have a say about it’s future. With some inspired thinking we could see the Old Prison continue to be a focus for promoting what makes the Cotswolds great for residents and visitors.
If you want to know more or see what others are saying visit these links.

 

 

About the Old Prison at Northleach.

  • Over the years it has gone from prison, to magistrates’ court and police house, skills centre, and exhibition with offices and café, to name but a few uses; this demonstrates it has already adapted over the years to meet needs for our area as required.
  • Being on our main transport route, it is an ideal location for district residents and tourists to reach by public transport. It is the jewel within in the portfolio of CDC owned assets and there is nothing else like it.
  • Built in around 1790, as a model prison, it inspired improvements in care of prisoners not just in Britain, but in the colonies and Commonwealth too. There is a rich archive of material of educational value for people studying human rights and social issues today. It is also of interest to descendants of people held or transported.
  • In recent times it became famous again as the home of the Lloyd Baker collection of rural artefacts, and many local families added to this collection. Much of this is held in storage and could be properly displayed again.
  • Many of the rural artefacts link to traditional skills still alive today. Why lose the possibility for a new generation to learn about rural living and how to care for our local environment? As in the past there could skills events and courses.
  • It makes sense to allow 12 months to see if other options could work. A Heritage Lottery bid was submitted by the Cotswold Conservation Board just days ago. Selling for development should be a last resort.

 

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