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Boris Johnson was today urged to drop plans to build a new prison in Dagenham.
The London Assembly agreed a motion calling for alternative plans to regenerate the area to be drawn up.
The motion was proposed by Tory Assembly Member Andrew Boff after receiving negative feedback about the facility after a 5,000-leaflet campaign in Dagenham.
Mr Boff said: "South Dagenham has been ignored for too long and desperately needs an injection of hope.
"If this prison is allowed to go ahead, it will muscle out other much-needed proposals, which meet the aspirations for regenerating the area.
"I strongly urge the Mayor to reject these plans."
Labour MP for Dagenham Jon Cruddas also said he was opposed to the plans and was setting up a website to let local people air their views.
However, others have suggested a new prison could mean the Mayor is forced to revive plans for a DLR extension so staff and visitors can travel more easily.
The new prison is set to house 1,500 inmates.
Reader views (4)
Everyone (except the criminals) wants more criminals banged up - just in someone else's turf.
Do the words "cake" & "eating it" ring any bells?
- Rogan, Irving
Dagenham is a Prison already for the people living there I would suspect.
- Rosie, Watford
I thought Dagenham was a prison? I assumed it was designed to induce despair in it's prisoners.
- Bob, Cheam
Whilst I can understand the people of Dagenham's concern, they should be safer with criminals off the streets. Too many are released early because of lack of space. Presumably the prison will be built and operated with the strictest security standards bearing in mind Dagenham is heavily populated?
- Ab, London
