Council leader urges change of heart on Magistrate Court plans

He wrote to justice secretary Michael Gove opposing the move ahead of last Thursday’s (8) feedback deadline.

The Ministry of Justice plans to shut 91 courts and tribunals — a fifth of those currently in operation across England and Wales.

The consultation suggests that the work done at The Statutes, Rotherham, could be moved to Sheffield’s courts to save costs. 

People in Rotherham face the prospect of travelling to Sheffield or Doncaster to act as defendants or witnesses if the plans go through.

The Law Society said the Ministry of Justice’s proposed changes would damage communities, the justice system and the legal profession.

And Cllr Read said: “This is an important building in our town centre and the prospect of it standing empty for any length of time is a concern. 

“However, the loss of the service and the principle of local justice goes way beyond this.

“The Government’s own figures indicate that a third of Rotherham residents would be more than an hour away by public transport. 

“We would lose the principle of magistrates with detailed local knowledge that has always underpinned the magistrates’ service in England.”

Shutting the magistrates’ court would cause costs to the Youth Offending Service, Cllr Read said, and the “efficient” model of having the court, Rotherham Borough Council and the police close together would be lost.

He added: “From the council’s perspective, increased transport and parking costs, plus staff time, will all likely lead to a weakening of the carefully-built relationship our officers have with the court.”

The Law Society’s president Jonathan Smithers said the Ministry of Justice’s proposed changes would damage communities, the justice system and the legal profession.

“A majority of these proposed court closures will make it more difficult for a significant number people to get to court, and the closures will more adversely affect people living in rural areas, those with disabilities and lower income families,” he said.

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