BREACH OF THE PEACE

Inspector criticises major design flaw of £85million jail

- KAIYA MARJORIBANKS

A FLAGSHIP £85million prison has been slammed by watchdogs for being built too close to nearby homes where neighbours said their lives were now “a living hell”.

HMP Stirling has faced complaints since opening in June last year over “incessant” noise and foul language from prisoners.

The Daily Record previously told how children living near the jail – which holds women and girls – were forced to wear noise cancelling headphones to get any sleep.

In the first inspection of the purpose-built HMP and YOI Stirling, prisons inspector Wendy Sinclair-Gieben raised serious concerns over a Separation and Reintegration Unit (SRU) which backs on to homes in the Forth Park estate.

The report said: “The major design flaw was clearly the Separation and Reintegration Unit (SRU) and high dependency units being located within sight and sound of the neighbouring community.