Mound may hide parts of Featherstone super-jail

?A 10ft mound of land will help hide parts of a new super-jail in South Staffordshire from residents under new plans revealed today.

The Ministry of Justice has also submitted a planning application to raise a section of car park at the jail in Featherstone, which is currently under construction.

South Staffordshire Council spokesman Jamie Angus said: "At one end of the car park it dips down slightly so the application refers to raising it at one end to make it level.

"The land in front of the car park is already a little higher than the car park itself and it would be raised again by about 10ft to minimise the visual impact on residents."

The news comes after prison bosses agreed to redraw landscaping plans at the site in New Road.

Originally it was planned to plant just eight trees to shield homes in Featherstone, but the proposal has been sent back to the drawing board following complaints from residents.

After an angry reaction, and following discussions with South Staffordshire Council, construction firm Kier agreed to amend its planting plans and provide better screening for houses on Oaks Drive.

Just days ago the Ministry of Justice was given permission to build parts of the prison a storey higher than originally planned by councillors. South Staffordshire Council's regulatory committee approved plans to build the dog handling building at 410 sq ft rather than 279 sq ft and two storeys instead of one.

The building will now be used for riot training.

The Ministry of Justice had originally hoped to create a control and restraint centre for riot training in a separate building on the other side of the prison, closer to residents' homes.

Kier installed a 41ft steel framework at the jail's planned visitor centre, despite only having consent for a 33ft structure, to house the centre.

However, the company was reported to council bosses by residents.

Prison bosses submitted a retrospective planning application to allow them to keep the bigger building, but it was thrown out by councillors.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson held showdown talks with Crispin Blunt, Minister for Prisons and Probation, about the way contractors were handling construction of the 46-acre, 1,620-inmate jail following the saga.

Plans for the prison, which is being built next to the existing Featherstone Prison and Brinsford Young Offenders Institution, were approved in January 2009 despite more than 400 objections.

The super prison is due to open in April 2012.