JAIL HOUSE ROCKED

Residents complain of noise from £85m women's clink and say homes have been damaged

- MARK MCGIVERN

SCOTLAND'S new £85million superjail for women has been slammed by neighbours who claim it has ruined their lives.

Residents living next to HMP Stirling told how their lives have been turned upside down since it opened.

Families living in Forth Park and Vale Grove, near posh Bridge of Allan, say they have been forced to endure daily screaming and foul language at all hours since female prisoners were placed in cells last month.

And they claim building works for the new superjail caused disruption resembling an "earthquake" due to vibration from earth excavations.

Homeowners say it has caused thousands of pounds of damage to some houses, which are worth up to £300,000.

The prison's governor Paula Arnold held a crisis meeting with locals near the jail which replaced the old Cornton Vale women's prison and includes a young offenders wing.

Residents at this week's meeting threatened a civil court action to pay for urgent repairs to their homes.

The governor also faced demands to immediately remove prisoners from the blocks closest to back gardens.

Resident Morris Anderson, 67, said: "There is shouting and screaming on a daily basis and I can hear loud conversations between prisoners from my garden.

"There has been one woman in recent weeks who has been wailing and screaming in a distressing way and I really don't think she should be in a jail because there has got to be mental health issues affecting her behaviour.

"I can hardly believe they could house prisoners so close to homes, with windows open all day and night and people screaming at each other."