By Paul Reoch

THE REDEVELOPMENT of Perth Prison should make it “fit for the 21st century,” according to governor Kate Donegan.

The Victorian building in Edinburgh Road has dominated the Perth skyline for years but its £70 million upgrading will “transform” the ageing establishment.

Work has already seen the demolition of the notorious ‘C’ hall, while other older buildings such as ‘E’ hall and the prison’s health centre have also gone.

The new £35 million ‘C’ hall should begin housing prisoners in September and it is expected to be up to full capacity by December. Mrs Donegan (54) feels this will herald a new era for the prison.

“The redevelopment will totally transform Perth Prison,” she told The Courier yesterday. “We are currently trying to encourage people to get a more innovative name for the new building, which will have a capacity for 356 prisoners.

“This will tie in with the new Criminal Justice Authority programme, which will mean that local prisoners will be housed in Perth.

“We are really looking forward to that because we are currently transferring prisoners out of here on a daily basis.

“They have been sent to Barlinnie, Low Moss—before it closed—and Glenochil.”

The new block will be on four levels.

Mrs Donegan said, “There will be a mixture of single and double cells, each with a toilet and wash basins.

“They will be purpose-built and ensure that the establishment is transformed.”

She added, “We had to retain the facade of ‘C’ hall to comply with Historic Scotland and the old prison gates will be kept. ‘E’ hall, which used to house criminal lunatics in days gone by, and the health centre have gone, and the perimeter of the prison will be realigned.

“When phase three is completed in 2009, Perth Prison will be totally changed. Parts of this prison date back to the Napoleonic era—it really is that old—so it’s been a huge job.”

Next month will mark one year as governor of Perth Prison for Mrs Donegan and the redevelopment has dominated this period.

“It’s been hugely exciting,” she said. “I was previously the governor at Glenochil Prison and saw two new house blocks being built there and now I’m in the midst of this redevelopment.

“I feel like I’ve been here for ever but settled in amazingly quickly.

“The main focus has been on the reconstruction programme. Our staff have had to cope with all this building work whilst carrying out their normal duties.”

She added, “I’m looking forward to the new accommodation as it will mean us getting back to normality and retaining Tayside prisoners instead of transferring them out. It will allow us to get back to day to day stability.”