Imagine a quaint village, nestled in the heart of Devon, suddenly facing the prospect of becoming a desolate ghost town. This is the grim reality Princetown might soon face if its historic prison, HMP Dartmoor, remains closed. The prison, a cornerstone of the local economy for over 200 years, shut its doors in July 2024 due to alarming levels of radon gas—up to 10 times higher than the safe limit. But here's where it gets controversial: while the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) claims the closure is temporary and the site has been made safe, the future of the prison hangs in the balance as experts scramble to determine if it can ever reopen safely.
The stakes are staggeringly high. If HMP Dartmoor stays closed, the village stands to lose more than 200 prison staff jobs and 600 inmates, potentially leaving a £30 million hole in the local economy. Tim Jones, chairman of the South West Business Council, bluntly states, 'That sounds like a big number, but it’s pretty realistic.' He raises a thought-provoking point: 'With every prison cell in the country occupied, can we really afford to lose 675 spaces?' Yet, he admits, 'Public health and radon gas are likely to win this debate.' And this is the part most people miss: the prison isn’t just a facility—it’s the lifeblood of Princetown, supporting pubs, cafes, shops, and even the local Post Office.
For Jane Liversidge, who’s worked at the Post Office and Store for over 40 years, the decline is palpable. 'If the prison goes, that’ll be it. We’ll end up as a ghost town,' she warns. Her concerns aren’t unfounded. Just last October, Princetown’s visitor centre closed permanently due to rising costs and slashed government funding—a stark reminder of the village’s fragility. Nikki Hirst, founder of the Princetown Business Network, is fighting to keep the village intact. 'We’re trying to think beyond the prison and plan for the future,' she says, though the challenge is daunting.
But not everyone agrees on the way forward. Terry Hirst, Nikki’s husband and owner of the Rambler’s Rest Guesthouse, argues it would be 'stupid' not to reopen the prison. 'Surely it’s cheaper to reopen an existing prison than build a new one,' he reasons. 'Everybody wants it there—why not just fix the problem?' His perspective highlights a divisive question: Is it worth risking public health to save a village’s economy?
The MoJ insists the site is safe and is working with radon experts to explore reopening options. However, the process is slow, and uncertainty looms. Prison staff remain on-site for now, but Gov Facilities Services Limited is already relocating its employees, signaling a potential shift in management. As Princetown hangs in the balance, one thing is clear: the village’s fate is tied to the prison’s future.
What do you think? Is reopening HMP Dartmoor worth the risk, or should Princetown chart a new path without it? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
