A NEW jail is to be built in west Scotland, it was announced today.

A NEW jail is to be built in west Scotland, it was announced today.

Plans were unveiled to replace Greenock Prison with a new jail, to be called Inverclyde Prison, as part of a shake-up of Scotland's prison system.

A location for the new jail is yet to be decided, but bosses say it could be in Inverclyde or a neighbouring area.

Speed up bomber appeal'

CALLS have been made for the cancer-stricken Lockerbie bomber's appeal to be speeded up.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer last month.

The former Libyan agent, 56, is serving life in HMP Greenock for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988, which killed 270 people.

Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the bombing, and SNP MSP Alex Neil are among those who want the appeal brought forward.

Work to identify and acquire a suitable site has begun.

Greenock Prison, known as Gateside, was built in 1910 for 255 convicts but today holds 335, including Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, who is stricken with prostate cancer.

It also housed former MSP Tommy Sheridan, who was jailed for refusing to pay a fine over an anti-nuclear protest.

The shake-up also includes plans to replace Inverness Prison with a new jail, to be called Highland Prison.

Mike Ewart, chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, said the jails - both around 100 years old - would be renamed to reflect the wider areas they served.

He said: "The announcement of our plan to replace HMP Greenock and HMP Inverness will be a welcome and timely boost to our dedicated and hard-working staff.

"HMP Inverclyde and HMP Highland will provide new and improved facilities for our staff to work and protect the public by helping prisoners address their offending behaviour during their time in custody."

A report for the Scottish Government in 2007 highlighted serious problems at Greenock Prison.

The report by Dr Andrew McLellan, chief inspector of prisons, said overcrowding in the jail's A Hall meant inmates spent too much time locked in their cells.

A Scottish Government plan published in March announced details of the prison service estate strategy, which will run until 2013.

The Government has committed to spending £120million a year on the jail modernisation plan, which includes building a new prison at Bishopbriggs.