EVERYONE was in agreement that they do not want a Titan Prison built here in Warrington.

But councillors turned the straightforward issue into a political hot potato as they argued over party issues.

Many residents jeered and walked out as Brenda Bradley called councillors to account for their behaviour.

But those who stayed saw humbled councillors reach agreement on a resolution that all could oppose the possible super prison that could be built on Omega.

The meeting of Warrington Borough councillors, which had been moved from the Town Hall to the Parr Hall to accommodate the hundreds of residents who turned out to hear the debate, pitted the political ideologies of each party against each other.

The Liberal Democrats put forward a motion opposing the prison, asking the Government to reject Titan prisons outright and urged the town’s MPs to vote in Parliament against any Titan prison being built in Warrington.

Clr Jo Crotty (LD – Bewsey and Whitecross) said a Titan prison would be a ‘university of crime’ and the money spent on such prisons would be better used on police in the community.

“We do not want Warrington to become a prison town,” she added.

Labour, meanwhile, put forward a rival motion that said it recognises the need for more prisons, but not here in Warrington and applauded the MPs’ actions opposing any prison.

The party also called into question the administration, in particular Clr Ian Marks, leader of the council and Clr Keith Bland, deputy leader and their actions during the private meeting when the matter was first raised.

But Clr Bland retorted: “I have never been at the meeting with the developers. The first thing I knew was when the Liverpool Post came out.”

Addressing the remaining members of public on his motion, Clr Terry O’Neill (Lab – Burtonwood and Winwick) and Labour leader, said: “The Labour Party is totally opposed to a prison on Omega.

“I have just got a different opinion on how the proposal should have been stopped. I still believe it could have been stopped from the first time it was mentioned.”

The confrontation was finally resolved when an amendment to the Labour motion, to drop the praise to the MPs and questioning the administrations conduct.