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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ninety one 'surplus' courts face closure | Ninety one 'surplus' courts face closure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government is consulting on plans to close 91 courts and tribunals in England and Wales. | The government is consulting on plans to close 91 courts and tribunals in England and Wales. |
| The aim is to reduce what Justice Secretary Michael Gove has identified as "surplus capacity". | The aim is to reduce what Justice Secretary Michael Gove has identified as "surplus capacity". |
| Courts under threat include 57 magistrates' courts, 19 county courts, two crown courts, four tribunal hearing centres and nine combined courts. | Courts under threat include 57 magistrates' courts, 19 county courts, two crown courts, four tribunal hearing centres and nine combined courts. |
| Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service operates 460 courts and tribunal hearing centres. | Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service operates 460 courts and tribunal hearing centres. |
| The government has also announced it is "integrating" a further 31 tribunals in England and Wales. | The government has also announced it is "integrating" a further 31 tribunals in England and Wales. |
| 'Difficult decisions' | 'Difficult decisions' |
| In a written statement, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for courts and legal aid, Shailesh Vara, said the service's estate was "underused" and cost the taxpayer about £500m every year. | In a written statement, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for courts and legal aid, Shailesh Vara, said the service's estate was "underused" and cost the taxpayer about £500m every year. |
| He said better access to justice could only be provided if "difficult decisions" were taken to reduce the cost of the estate and reinvest the savings. | He said better access to justice could only be provided if "difficult decisions" were taken to reduce the cost of the estate and reinvest the savings. |
| "Last year over a third of all courts and tribunals were empty for more than 50% of their available hearing time," he said. | "Last year over a third of all courts and tribunals were empty for more than 50% of their available hearing time," he said. |
| "The buildings being consulted on represent 16% of hearing rooms across the estate which are, on average, used for only a third of their available time. | "The buildings being consulted on represent 16% of hearing rooms across the estate which are, on average, used for only a third of their available time. |
| "That is equivalent to fewer than two out of five days in a week." | "That is equivalent to fewer than two out of five days in a week." |
| Online conferencing | Online conferencing |
| Technology such as video, telephone and online conferencing would reduce the need for face-to-face hearings, which should be reserved for "the most sensitive or complex cases", Mr Vara said. | Technology such as video, telephone and online conferencing would reduce the need for face-to-face hearings, which should be reserved for "the most sensitive or complex cases", Mr Vara said. |
| In rural locations, public buildings, such as town halls, could be used for hearings instead of "underused, poorly-maintained permanent courts", he suggested. | In rural locations, public buildings, such as town halls, could be used for hearings instead of "underused, poorly-maintained permanent courts", he suggested. |
| He said that after the changes, more than 95% of citizens would still be able to reach their required court within an hour by car. | He said that after the changes, more than 95% of citizens would still be able to reach their required court within an hour by car. |
| The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 8 October. | The consultation will run for 12 weeks until 8 October. |
| A full list of the courts affected: | |
| London | |
| Bow County Court | |
| Feltham Magistrates' Court | |
| Greenwich Magistrates' Court | |
| Hammersmith County Court (formerly West London County Court) | |
| Lambeth County Court | |
| Pocock Street Tribunal Hearing Centre | |
| Richmond-upon-Thames Magistrates' Court | |
| Tottenham Magistrates' Court | |
| Waltham Forest Magistrates' Court | |
| Woolwich County Court | |
| Midlands | |
| Birmingham Youth Court | |
| Burton-upon-Trent Magistrates' Court | |
| Buxton Magistrates' and County Court | |
| Corby Magistrates' Court | |
| Grantham Magistrates' Court | |
| Hinckley Magistrates' Court | |
| Kettering County Court | |
| Kettering Magistrates' Court | |
| Sandwell Magistrates' Court | |
| Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court | |
| Skegness Magistrates' Court | |
| Solihull Magistrates' Court | |
| Stafford Magistrates' Court | |
| Worksop Magistrates' Court | |
| North East | |
| Consett Magistrates' Court | |
| Halifax County Court and Family Court | |
| Halifax (Calderdale) Magistrates' and Family Court | |
| Hartlepool Magistrates' Court and County Court | |
| Morpeth County Court | |
| Rotherham Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court | |
| Scunthorpe Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court | |
| Wakefield Magistrates' Court | |
| North West | |
| Accrington County Court | |
| Accrington Magistrates' Court | |
| Bolton County Court and Family Court | |
| Bury Magistrates' Court and County Court | |
| Kendal Magistrates' Court and County Court | |
| Macclesfield County Court | |
| Macclesfield Magistrates' Court | |
| Oldham County Court | |
| Oldham Magistrates' Court | |
| Ormskirk Magistrates' Court and Family Court | |
| Runcorn (Halton) Magistrates' Court | |
| St Helens Magistrates' Court and County Court | |
| Stockport Magistrates' Court and County Court | |
| Tameside County Court | |
| Trafford Magistrates' Court and Altrincham County Court | |
| Warrington County Court | |
| West Cumbria Magistrates' Court and County Court | |
| South East | |
| Aylesbury Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court | |
| Basildon Social Security and Child Support Tribunal (Acorn House) | |
| Bedford and Mid Beds Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Bedford County Court and Family Court | |
| Bicester Magistrates' Court and Family Court | |
| Bury St. Edmunds Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Bury St. Edmunds Crown Court | |
| Chichester Combined Court (Crown and County) | |
| Chichester Magistrates' Court | |
| Colchester County Court and Family Court | |
| Colchester County Court Offices | |
| Dartford Magistrates' Court | |
| Dover Magistrates' Court | |
| Eastbourne Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court | |
| Harlow Magistrates' Court | |
| Kings Lynn County Court and Family Court | |
| Lowestoft Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court | |
| Redhill Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Reigate County Court and Family Court | |
| St Albans County Court | |
| Tunbridge Wells County Court and Family Court | |
| Watford Magistrates' Court and Family Court | |
| West Berkshire (Newbury) Magistrates' Court | |
| South West | |
| Barnstaple Crown Court | |
| Bath Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court or North Avon (Yate) Magistrates' Court | |
| Bournemouth Magistrates' Court | |
| Cheltenham Rivershill House Tribunal | |
| Chippenham Magistrates' Court, Civil Court and Family Court | |
| Dorchester Crown Court | |
| Fareham Magistrates' Court | |
| Gloucester Magistrates' Court | |
| North Avon (Yate) Magistrates' Court or Bath Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court | |
| Stroud Magistrates' Court | |
| Torquay Magistrates' Court | |
| Wales | |
| Brecon Law Courts | |
| Bridgend Law Courts | |
| Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre | |
| Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall) | |
| Dolgellau Crown and Magistrates' Court | |
| Holyhead Magistrates' Court | |
| Llangefni Civil and Family Court | |
| Neath and Port Talbot Civil and Family Court | |
| Pontypridd Magistrates' Court | |
| Prestatyn Magistrates' Court |