The decision has been made, the second prison in Málaga province is going to be in Archidona.
Archidona, Mollina, Fuente de Piedra, Antequera, Villanueva del Trabuco and Villanueva del Rosario were all under consideration as possible sites for the new 1,008 cell incarceration centre but, in the end, it was decided to go for Archidona.
The site for the €100 million prison is in the La Saucedilla area, opposite a farmhouse of the same name, on the A-92 and about five kilometres from the village of Villanueva del Trabuco.
The site has a total area of 350,000 square metres, about 50,000 square metres being necessary for the prison block itself and the rest for a security perimeter. Work is expected to start sometime between April and June next year with a completion time of 24 to 36 months. However, there is talk of using a double shift system to get it finished earlier.
So, it could be operational by 2011 at the latest. Construction of the prison will provide work for about 800 people and once finished, 100 permanent positions will be available. In addition, the prison itself will need 500 officers and and another 84 people will be indirectly employed in the running of the centre. Good for the local economy.
Other infrastructure items in the area are also to be addressed. A section of the A-92 between Archidona and Villanueva del Trabuco will have to be improved and both the Court and the local Guardia Civil barracks will need attention.
At the moment, there is only one Court and this will have to be improved and expanded. The Guardia Civil barracks currently holds about a dozen officers, but when the prison becomes operational, about 100 officers will be needed in the town.
As far as visual impact and image are concerned, the perimeter of the prison will be lined with trees to screen it from general view and the planned watchtower will be very low in height as much technology is used these days to monitor the inmates and activity within the prison rather than the old-fashioned system of ‘lookouts’….so why not call it a watchshed or a surveillance centre if it’s not actually going to be a tower?..