‘We live next to Britain’s new £85m women’s superjail – we’re afraid to sit in our own gardens because we can hear female lags shouting and threatening to kill each other’

Families living next to Britain’s new £85million women’s ‘superjail’ say they are being tormented by the daily sound of prisoners screaming, swearing and threatening to kill each other.

Locals beside HMP Stirling claim that dog walkers have had abuse shouted at them from the prison yard, and say they can hear inmates fighting at all hours.

HMP Stirling was finished in May this year and was built to replace the now-defunct HMP Cornton Vale, which hit headlines in January when trans double rapist Isla Bryson was housed there.

The new facility, which also contains a youth offender’s institute, is right next to a quiet cul-de-sac on a housing estate, which residents say has caused disruption to their lives.

Morris Anderson, 67, said: ‘I can’t even sit out in the back garden without hearing them cursing and swearing or saying ”I’m going to kill you” to each other. The other day, a woman was whistling and howling for over two hours. It goes on all the time – it just doesn’t stop.

Morris Anderson, 67, said: ‘I can’t even sit out in the back garden without hearing them cursing and swearing or saying “I’m going to kill you” to each other’

HMP Stirling is right next to a quiet cul-de-sac on a housing estate

‘Other residents have young families – their weans [children] can’t even play out in the back garden now for all the swearing. I took my dog out for a walk, and they were shouting at me.

‘I looked to my right and could actually see the woman looking at me. She shouted ”all right big yin, what you up to?” This was around eight o’clock too. I have to take my dog along a different path now.’

The women’s prison is situated between the town of Bridge of Allan and Cornton and is designed in a campus style with no bars on any doors or windows. It is intended to give inmates a calmer environment with more access to nature. Despite the facility housing just 100 inmates, residents in neighbouring streets say they have serious noise issues. 

Mr Anderson also claims that residents were misled as to how much of an impact the prison would have on their area.

HMP Stirling – which also contains a youth offender’s institute – was finished in May this year and was built to replace the now-defunct HMP Cornton Vale

The women’s prison is situated between Bridge of Allan and Cornton and is designed in a campus style with no bars on any doors and windows

Despite the facility housing just 100 inmates, residents in neighbouring streets say they have have serious noise issues

He said: ‘We got sent a leaflet that showed us the plans – it wasn’t that monstrosity there. It never showed you how close it would be to the fence. I can hardly believe that they could house prisoners so close to homes, with windows open all day and night and people screaming at each other.’

Another neighbour said: ‘There’s always been a prison nearby, but it’s got a lot worse. The construction caused problems with houses, and the prisoners are uncontrollable. It’s driving all of us crazy.’

One resident claimed: ‘I can hear them screaming and shouting, swearing and carrying on. It’s horrible.’

A mother added: ‘I’ve got two little kids and they should not be hearing all the foul language and aggression.’

Locals beside HMP Stirling say dog walkers have had abuse shouted at them from the prison yard

Families – some with young children – say they can hear prisoners fighting at all hours

Bridge of Allan-based MSP Alexander Stewart has written to Justice Secretary Angela Constance to demand answers. He wrote that locals are ‘being hounded by screaming, shouting, swearing and banging coming from the prison at all times of the day and night without exception.’

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘HMP & YOI Stirling has delivered a significant step change in the way in which we support women in our care, many of whom are vulnerable and have experience of trauma and adversity.

‘Our relationship with the surrounding community is crucial to this and we have met with neighbours to listen to their concerns about noise from the establishments.

‘We are looking at a number of infrastructure and operational measures, with an aim to reduce noise levels.’