THE Prime Minister has said he will meet with local MP Gwyn Prosser to discuss the plan to turn the former Connaught Barracks site at Dover into an open prison.

Mr Prosser raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons when he asked Tony Blair whether he could understand why the people of Dover felt they were being "dumped on".

Recalling the days when Dover was suffering great difficulties coping with large numbers of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, Mr Prosser asked if the Prime Minister remembered setting up of an induction centre and a detention centre in the town.

"Does he recall writing to my constituents: 'I am well aware of the strain that has been put on Dover...and how well the town has dealt with this. I also accept that Dover has suffered an unfair burden'?

"With the Home Office now threatening to burden us with an open prison, in the most inappropriate site in the land, can he understand why Dover feels dumped on, and will he meet me to talk about my grave concerns?"

Mr Blair said he recalled Mr Prosser's strong representations on the migration issues. "We were able to deal with that problem. I am happy to meet him and to try to deal with the problem that he now has. I entirely understand that local feelings are strong."

Earlier this week Mr Prosser led a delegation to the Home Office to talk to Home Secretary Dr John Reid about the proposal.

Among the concerns expressed to him was the affect the open prison would have on serving soldiers who were fighting for their country, but worried about the safety of their families living next to the site, and also the future of the nearby Duke of York's Royal Military School if parents decided to withdraw their children.

Dr Reid said he would be talking to the Adjutant General and the Defence Secretary before making a decision.