Plans to turn HMP Featherstone into an open prison have been abandoned, following a lengthy campaign by Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire.
Gavin recently secured a pledge from the Ministry of Justice that the scheme will no longer go ahead.
The MP has been vigorously campaigning to prevent a change in security categorisation for the prison since the proposal was first mooted, in late 2012.
At the time, there were serious concerns about how a change in status could impact on any convicted sex offenders currently incarcerated at the site.
The Ministry of Justice has also eliminated the possibility that the nearby Oakwood Prison would be turned into an open prison in place of Featherstone.
In his letter to Gavin, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Jeremy Wright MP, said: “…we have decided not to proceed with the partial change in function of the prison that we discussed in November last year.
“Consequently, we have no current plans to change the security classification of Featherstone, or for that matter Oakwood Prison.”
On the issue, Gavin said: “I am overjoyed that there are no longer any plans to turn HMP Featherstone into an open prison. In my view, it was an extremely dangerous scheme which could have severely compromised the safety and security of residents in the local area. I am delighted that the Ministry of Justice has seen sense and chosen to abandon these ridiculous proposals.”