Wakefield Magistrates’ Court to close

Skegness Magistrates’ Court will be closed by September the Ministry of Justice has said today (Thursday) – with cases potentially heading to Boston.

The truth is that there has been a deliberate plan to squeeze as many cases into as few court sittings as possible over the last few years.

“Combined with increases in court fees and reductions in eligibility for legal aid, numerous closures will serve to deepen the inequalities in the justice system between those who can and cannot afford to pay”.

But critics are concerned that the measures, which could come into force as early as this July, will make it more hard for people to gain proper access to justice.

The Shrewsbury court, based at Abbey Foregate, is one of 65 courts across England and Wales which will be closed under the move. That leaves only two magistrates courts in the whole of Lincolnshire – Lincoln and Boston.

Marie Rimmer MP campaigned against the proposals to close the court saying it would inhibit access to justice.

Just two weeks ago, a spokeswoman from the HM courts and tribunals said responses to the consultation were still being considered.

However, he said numerous current 460 court buildings are “underused” quoting that “last year 48% of all courts and tribunals were empty for at least half their available hearing time”. Closing these courts in poor quality buildings will raise £40m to reinvest in the justice system, and save hardworking taxpayers £27m per year.

Mr Vara said: “The decision to close a court or tribunal must never be taken lightly”.

Trafford Council stated: “Given the number of cases we bring before the court on an annual basis, we are concerned that there will simply not be the capacity for Manchester and Salford Magistrate’s Court to absorb and have the capacity to deal with our cases in an efficient manner”.

“We have modified some of our plans, using the local knowledge provided in responses to the consultation, to reduce the travel time impact to court users and provide value for money”.

THE GOVERNMENT has confirmed it is to shut Bolton County and Family Court by the end of this year and will transfer its work to Manchester.

“Such users include defendants, victims and witnesses but also local authorities, the Anglia Revenues Partnership and other public bodies who regularly need to access the court”.

Although Mr Vara claimed that the decision to close so many local courts was hard but insisted the action was necessary.