Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has confirmed that the future of Telford Magistrates' Court is safe, despite the transfer of remand cases to an alternative venue.
From 1st April 2018 Telford's remand cases will be dealt with 25 miles away at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court. The new arrangement will initially be trialed for six months. Court users have voiced concern that the transfer of remand work signifies the first step towards the complete closure of Telford Magistrates', which is the last surviving court of its type in Shropshire.
Work from Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court and Telford County and Family Court was relocated to Telford Magistrates' Court when these courts were axed in the last wave of closures only a couple of years ago. Back then, HMCTS was keen to stress the good condition of the facilities at Telford Magistrates' Court.
Stephen Scully, of West Midlands based Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, told The Shropshire Star that lawyers are concerned that Telford Magistrates' could be reduced to only two days a week from the start of April.
He said: "All other work in West Mercia will go to Kidderminster, which means that a person from Shropshire who hasn’t got a solicitor may find they are represented by a firm in South Worcester and vice versa.
"Now remands have gone, it is our view Telford will be closed within a year because it just won’t be cost effective to keep open."
An HMCTS spokeswoman dismissed concerns: "There are no plans to change its usual practices. The court absolutely will not be going down to two sittings."
Since 2011 more than 220 court buildings have been closed across the HMCTS estate. A consultation is currently underway on the future of a further eight court buildings.
It would appear that local access to justice is more difficult than ever.
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