Forty per cent of prisoners at a West Lothian prison have told inspectors they have been abused, threatened or bullied by staff. This has prompted safety fears at the privately-run jail near West Calder.
How to get to HMP Addiewell with public transit
1. Visit the Prison
Designed as a “learning prison”, inmates are encouraged to address the circumstances which led to their imprisonment. The prison also offers a range of classes and programmes and has an effective peer support model.
This privately run prison opened in 2008 and houses convicted, new admission, young remand and protection prisoners. It consists of two large house blocks with 12 separate wings which contain single and double cells, plus disabled prisoners’ cells.
You can get to Addiewell easily by train or bus. Moovit makes it easy to find the best routes, compare ticket prices and travel times. Just use the app to get step-by-step directions, or search for your destination and find out the fare and schedule. You can also see live traffic updates.
2. Visit the Museum
Addiewell was the site of a large paraffin oil refinery established by James ‘Paraffin’ Young (1811-83) in the 1860s. The village still has a number of industrial buildings including a primary school and community facility/soft play/gym, but the landscape is now dominated by an immense whisky bond and warehouse complex developed by the North British Distillery Company.
HMP Addiewell opened in 2008. It houses all offender types with the exception of females and convicted young offenders. It is designed as a ‘learning prison’ which aids inmates in addressing their behaviour and the circumstances surrounding their crime.
The quickest way to get to HMP Addiewell is by train. The average journey time is 38 minutes, but the trip can vary depending on the time of day and weekend.
3. Take a Tour
Getting to Addiewell by train takes around 43 min and is operated by First ScotRail Service. Tickets cost $6 – $10 and the journey can be made via Bus Terminal and Station Road.
The HMP Addiewell is located in West Lothian Scotland and opened its doors in 2008. It houses all of the offender types except for females and convicted young offenders. It is also listed as a “Learning Prison” that aids prisoners to address their behavior and the circumstances that led to their crime. Residents on remand can order their own visits and need to provide 24 hours notice of any visit requests. Visits are available Saturday-Sunday from 14:00 – 17:00.
4. Go Shopping
Addiewell is home to a few shops, including a post office and a pub. It also has a community facility/softplay/gym and a local football team called Loganlea United.
The community centre is a joint project between Sodexo Government Services and Cyrenians, and it’s open six days a week to offer advice and support to families. Last year, the centre supported more than 1500 interactions with families, from linking them into local services to offering a listening ear when they needed it most.
The village is served by Addiewell railway station, on the Shotts line from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley. Trains run hourly and the journey takes around 39 minutes. Book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
5. Have a Night Out
Addiewell is a village in the West Lothian council area of Scotland and historically lies within the County of Midlothian. It is the home of HMP Addiewell, which opened in 2008.
The prison was designed as a ‘Learning Prison’, meaning inmates are encouraged to address the behaviour and circumstances that led to their convictions. This is hoped to improve their employment prospects, well-being and community support networks, helping reduce reoffending.
Fat cats from the private firm running Scotland’s newest jail were partying last night as they celebrated finishing off the new building. The West Lothian jail has en-suite shower rooms and flat-screen TVs in cells. Touch-screen kiosks let inmates order meals and top up phone accounts. The jail has sparked controversy because of its comfy conditions.
