Villagers in Hollesley are campaigning against rumoured plans to convert the prison’s former officers’ club, which is in a residential estate, into a visitors’ centre for inmates to meet family.
Joel Stone, who lives in Oak Hill, Hollesley, where the old social club is located, said villagers were not prepared for offenders serving sentences to be meeting with relatives so close by.
“We’re looking into these rumours about the ex-officers’ club,” he said.
“We understand the prison has been talking about opening a visitors’ centre for the inmates there.”
Mr Stone said villagers had been concerned about the proposals before the proposals to house sex offenders in the prison were put forward. However, the prospect of rapists, paedophiles and abusers using the visitors’ centre, has heightened their concerns. “We don’t think it’s at all appropriate,” Mr Stone added.
The Prison Service has been asked for comment.
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