Princetown, a quaint village nestled in the heart of Devon, faces an uncertain future as its very existence hangs in the balance. The closure of HMP Dartmoor, a historic prison that has stood as a sentinel over the village for over two centuries, has sparked fears of an impending ghost town scenario. But here's where it gets controversial: while the government assures that the prison closure is temporary and the site has been made safe, the economic implications for Princetown could be dire. The potential loss of over 200 prison staff and 600 inmates is predicted to leave a £30 million hole in the local economy, a prospect that has residents like Jane Liversidge, who has witnessed the decline over 40 years, fearing the worst. 'If the prison goes, that'll be it, and we'll end up as a ghost town,' she says. But Nikki Hirst, who runs the Princetown Business Network, is determined to keep the village alive. 'It's just making sure Princetown stays as it is and it doesn't fall apart if the prison goes,' she says. However, Terry Hirst, Nikki's husband and the owner of the Rambler's Rest Guesthouse, believes the logical decision would be to reopen the prison. 'Surely it's got to be cheaper to reopen a prison than build a new one,' he says. The Ministry of Justice, while acknowledging the temporary closure and ongoing radon risk assessment, has not committed to reopening the prison. As the village grapples with the uncertainty, one thing is clear: Princetown's future hangs in the balance, and the fate of its residents and businesses is intertwined with the decision to reopen the prison or not.
