ERLESTOKE Prison has denied that the number of inmates is set to soar.
Villagers in both Erlestoke and Great Cheverell were concerned when Kennet District Council was asked by the prison for planning clearance for a two-storey prefab building for a further 40 prisoners at the 326-inmate medium security prison.
The covering letter referred to the urgency of the plan and asked for it to be dealt with within 14 days.
Kennet District Council responded and replied that it had no objections.
Acting governor David Yeomans said: "We are expecting a very minor hike of six inmates, so our population will be going up to 332 in the short term.
"Applying for permission for the new building was part of a national initiative," he said. "The prison population is going up by about 5,000 and all prisons have been asked to test the water with the local authorities about the possibility of erecting more accommodation.
A Prison Service spokes-man said: "This was a speculative planning application but Erlestoke has not been earmarked for an increase."
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