2:50pm Thursday 2nd September 2010
People are being urged to help fight the closure of Skipton’s courts before the fast-approaching consultation deadline.
There are just 13 days left for people to comment on the Ministry of Justice’s plans to close the town’s magistrates and county courts.
Magistrates, councillors, court staff, police and residents have joined forces to support the Craven Herald campaign to fight the closures.
Skipton MP Julian Smith, who has headed the campaign, is calling on anyone who has yet to comment to do so now before it is too late.
“I have found many of the arguments made to be detailed and compelling and I will make sure they are heard by the ministers involved,” he said.
“My team and I are now compiling a submission to the consultation team combining my thoughts with the main points presented to me at the public meeting, sent to me by members of the public and experienced at first hand travelling from the Dales to Harrogate.”
Proposals to close 103 magistrates and 54 county courts were announced by the Ministry of Justice in June. Communities were given until Wednesday September 15 to put forward any arguments opposing the closure.
Last week, North Yorkshire County Council and its Craven Area Committee sent separate responses to the consultation.
Coun Carl Les, executive member for corporate services, finance, performance management and procurement, said although the council understood there needed to be cuts in the public sector, there were strong arguments to keep the courts open.
“The court closure proposals for North Yorkshire do not stand up to scrutiny,” he said.
“In several instances, they do not meet HM Court Services’ criteria for court closures in terms of courtroom utilisation and workload rates, the physical state and accessibility of the buildings and travelling times to access a neighbouring court.”
If the closures go ahead, magistrates’ court business will be transferred to Harrogate and the county court business to Bradford.
Coun Les said there were associated costs involved with the proposals which did not seem to have been taken into account.
“The proposals appear to sit in contradiction with the Government’s localism agenda, undermining the principles of local justice, both for magistrates with local knowledge and for witnesses and defendants, who will be vulnerable on their way to court and will incur significant inconvenience and upfront expense to attend court,” he said.
He said it was the opinion of the council that the consultation had failed to present any alternative ways to improve organisational efficiency.
“The impression gained is that local people are being presented with a fait accompli, backed up by insufficient or inaccurate information.”
Coun David Ireton, chairman of the Craven Area Committee, said: “HMCS has failed to take into account the rural nature of the district and the extensive travelling times and distances involved for court users.”
Those against the proposals say that both courts are busier than ever and the Otley Street building is fit for purpose.
They also argue that travelling times for all court users will increase beyond the acceptable limit put forward by the courts service.
Mr Smith said: “I have always made it clear it will be a battle to keep Skipton Magistrates’ Court and Skipton County Court open, but I believe we have a very strong case.”
Comments can be sent to Dyfed Foulkes, area director, HMCS North/West Yorkshire, Colbeck House, Bradford Road, Birstall. WF17 9NR or at the Ministry of Justice website justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations.htm
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