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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 conferencingOnline 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 Public and Commercial Services union, which represents many court workers, said the proposals would restrict access to justice.
It promised to challenge the Ministry of Justice's method for calculating underuse of courtrooms.
General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: "With courts closures and cuts to legal aid, access to justice has been significantly restricted by the previous government and now this one.
"We do not believe it is in the interests of justice to leave our communities without easy access to courthouses and tribunals."
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:A full list of the courts affected:
LondonLondon
Bow County CourtBow County Court
Feltham Magistrates' CourtFeltham Magistrates' Court
Greenwich Magistrates' CourtGreenwich Magistrates' Court
Hammersmith County Court (formerly West London County Court)Hammersmith County Court (formerly West London County Court)
Lambeth County CourtLambeth County Court
Pocock Street Tribunal Hearing CentrePocock Street Tribunal Hearing Centre
Richmond-upon-Thames Magistrates' CourtRichmond-upon-Thames Magistrates' Court
Tottenham Magistrates' CourtTottenham Magistrates' Court
Waltham Forest Magistrates' CourtWaltham Forest Magistrates' Court
Woolwich County CourtWoolwich County Court
MidlandsMidlands
Birmingham Youth CourtBirmingham Youth Court
Burton-upon-Trent Magistrates' CourtBurton-upon-Trent Magistrates' Court
Buxton Magistrates' and County CourtBuxton Magistrates' and County Court
Corby Magistrates' CourtCorby Magistrates' Court
Grantham Magistrates' CourtGrantham Magistrates' Court
Hinckley Magistrates' CourtHinckley Magistrates' Court
Kettering County CourtKettering County Court
Kettering Magistrates' CourtKettering Magistrates' Court
Sandwell Magistrates' CourtSandwell Magistrates' Court
Shrewsbury Magistrates' CourtShrewsbury Magistrates' Court
Skegness Magistrates' CourtSkegness Magistrates' Court
Solihull Magistrates' CourtSolihull Magistrates' Court
Stafford Magistrates' CourtStafford Magistrates' Court
Worksop Magistrates' CourtWorksop Magistrates' Court
North EastNorth East
Consett Magistrates' CourtConsett Magistrates' Court
Halifax County Court and Family CourtHalifax County Court and Family Court
Halifax (Calderdale) Magistrates' and Family CourtHalifax (Calderdale) Magistrates' and Family Court
Hartlepool Magistrates' Court and County CourtHartlepool Magistrates' Court and County Court
Morpeth County CourtMorpeth County Court
Rotherham Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family CourtRotherham Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court
Scunthorpe Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family CourtScunthorpe Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court
Wakefield Magistrates' CourtWakefield Magistrates' Court
North WestNorth West
Accrington County CourtAccrington County Court
Accrington Magistrates' CourtAccrington Magistrates' Court
Bolton County Court and Family CourtBolton County Court and Family Court
Bury Magistrates' Court and County CourtBury Magistrates' Court and County Court
Kendal Magistrates' Court and County CourtKendal Magistrates' Court and County Court
Macclesfield County CourtMacclesfield County Court
Macclesfield Magistrates' CourtMacclesfield Magistrates' Court
Oldham County CourtOldham County Court
Oldham Magistrates' CourtOldham Magistrates' Court
Ormskirk Magistrates' Court and Family CourtOrmskirk Magistrates' Court and Family Court
Runcorn (Halton) Magistrates' CourtRuncorn (Halton) Magistrates' Court
St Helens Magistrates' Court and County CourtSt Helens Magistrates' Court and County Court
Stockport Magistrates' Court and County CourtStockport Magistrates' Court and County Court
Tameside County CourtTameside County Court
Trafford Magistrates' Court and Altrincham County CourtTrafford Magistrates' Court and Altrincham County Court
Warrington County CourtWarrington County Court
West Cumbria Magistrates' Court and County CourtWest Cumbria Magistrates' Court and County Court
South EastSouth East
Aylesbury Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family CourtAylesbury Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court
Basildon Social Security and Child Support Tribunal (Acorn House)Basildon Social Security and Child Support Tribunal (Acorn House)
Bedford and Mid Beds Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Bedford County Court and Family CourtBedford and Mid Beds Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Bedford County Court and Family Court
Bicester Magistrates' Court and Family CourtBicester Magistrates' Court and Family Court
Bury St. Edmunds Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Bury St. Edmunds Crown CourtBury St. Edmunds Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Bury St. Edmunds Crown Court
Chichester Combined Court (Crown and County)Chichester Combined Court (Crown and County)
Chichester Magistrates' CourtChichester Magistrates' Court
Colchester County Court and Family CourtColchester County Court and Family Court
Colchester County Court OfficesColchester County Court Offices
Dartford Magistrates' CourtDartford Magistrates' Court
Dover Magistrates' CourtDover Magistrates' Court
Eastbourne Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family CourtEastbourne Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court
Harlow Magistrates' CourtHarlow Magistrates' Court
Kings Lynn County Court and Family CourtKings Lynn County Court and Family Court
Lowestoft Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family CourtLowestoft Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court
Redhill Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Reigate County Court and Family CourtRedhill Magistrates' Court and Family Court and Reigate County Court and Family Court
St Albans County CourtSt Albans County Court
Tunbridge Wells County Court and Family CourtTunbridge Wells County Court and Family Court
Watford Magistrates' Court and Family CourtWatford Magistrates' Court and Family Court
West Berkshire (Newbury) Magistrates' CourtWest Berkshire (Newbury) Magistrates' Court
South WestSouth West
Barnstaple Crown CourtBarnstaple Crown Court
Bath Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court or North Avon (Yate) Magistrates' CourtBath Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court or North Avon (Yate) Magistrates' Court
Bournemouth Magistrates' CourtBournemouth Magistrates' Court
Cheltenham Rivershill House TribunalCheltenham Rivershill House Tribunal
Chippenham Magistrates' Court, Civil Court and Family CourtChippenham Magistrates' Court, Civil Court and Family Court
Dorchester Crown CourtDorchester Crown Court
Fareham Magistrates' CourtFareham Magistrates' Court
Gloucester Magistrates' CourtGloucester Magistrates' Court
North Avon (Yate) Magistrates' Court or Bath Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family CourtNorth Avon (Yate) Magistrates' Court or Bath Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court
Stroud Magistrates' CourtStroud Magistrates' Court
Torquay Magistrates' CourtTorquay Magistrates' Court
WalesWales
Brecon Law CourtsBrecon Law Courts
Bridgend Law CourtsBridgend Law Courts
Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing CentreCarmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre
Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall)Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall)
Dolgellau Crown and Magistrates' CourtDolgellau Crown and Magistrates' Court
Holyhead Magistrates' CourtHolyhead Magistrates' Court
Llangefni Civil and Family CourtLlangefni Civil and Family Court
Neath and Port Talbot Civil and Family CourtNeath and Port Talbot Civil and Family Court
Pontypridd Magistrates' CourtPontypridd Magistrates' Court
Prestatyn Magistrates' CourtPrestatyn Magistrates' Court