Magistrates fight to save Spalding court
Wednesday, 9am - SPALDING magistrates are meeting in a bid to save the town's court from the axe.
The Spalding court house is one of 103 magistrates' courts facing closure - along with 54 county courts.
The Ministry of Justice claims the move will save running costs totalling 15.3 million a year and a further 21.5 million in maintenance bills.
Plans are out for consultation and Spalding magistrates are urging the public to make their voices heard.
Chairman of Elloes magistrates Richard Spinks said: "Local magistrates will be meeting to formulate a strong response in favour of retaining the court house in Spalding.
"The alternative is that any matters to be brought before the court will be heard in Grantham."
District and county councillors will be consulted along with South Holland and The Deepings MP John Hayes.
Mr Spinks urged people to make their views known to their elected representatives - or direct to the Ministry of Justice.
He said: "Your magistrates cannot conceive how local justice for local people and by local people can possibly be served by hearing cases in far away Grantham."
The date of the magistrates' meeting yet to be fixed.
The Ministry of Justice 'hit list' targets courts which are supposedly "underused and inadequate".
The court was renovated in 2002 and finishing touches are being been this week to the new perimeter wall, railings and gates project.
On alternate weeks the court has three and four daily sittings - the building is also used for Coroner's Courts.
The Spalding court absorbed the work of the former East Elloes magistrates, who heard cases at Long Sutton, and more recently took on the caseload from Bourne.
Magistrate Jenny Worth said it would be difficult if Spalding's work went to Grantham, especially for residents in outlying areas such as Sutton Bridge.
She said: "To go by public transport is going to take all day and all night."
The closing date for consultation responses is September 15. Consultation documents are available on http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations/htm
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
