John Phillips PRESSURE is mounting on the government to scrap plans to build a supersized prison in Dagenham after the London Assembly unanimously condemned the proposals yesterday (Wednesday). London Assembly members across the political spectrum slammed the Ministr

John Phillips

PRESSURE is mounting on the government to scrap plans to build a "supersized" prison in Dagenham after the London Assembly unanimously condemned the proposals yesterday (Wednesday).

London Assembly members across the political spectrum slammed the Ministry of Justice and Mayor Boris Johnson - whose London Development Agency owns the proposed site - for unveiling the plans to open the 1,500-inmate, category B jail by 2013 without consulting residents first.

Tory member Andrew Boff warned the prison would "suffocate" the regeneration of the area, including the 10,800-home, �1.9billion Barking Riverside development, while Labour member for City and East London, John Biggs, said Dagenham was made to feel like a "dumping ground".

He said: "Whilst we accept that there is a need for greater prison capacity in London, the lack of consultation about the siting of a prison in south Dagenham is unacceptable.

"This proposal affects a community that for too long has felt like a dumping ground for London's problems.