Magistrates court set for closure

Grantham  and Skegness Magistrates’ Court have been ear-marked for closure Justice Secretary Michael Gove announced today.

They are among 91 courts across the UK which, according the Department of Justice, are only running at one-third capacity and the future of summary justice lies in digital technology rather than attendance.

The offices at Grantham have already closed.

Magistrates courts in the area already closed in the past decade include Bourne, Spalding and  Sleaford.

The court has been at the present site since 1995, taking over from Eddison Plant Hire, from its previous home on London Road.

Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Coun Martin Hill said: “We will be responding to this consultation to raise our concerns and to highlight how important the magistrates’ courts are to the communities of Lincolnshire.

“Magistrates’ courts play a key role in our local criminal justice system – in reducing offending rates and making sure justice is delivered locally.

“Local criminal justice is about having a fair trial for those alleged offenders in their own community. Taking these two courts away would mean that they will be tried many miles away from their own communities. This would then have a detrimental impact on the victims of crime.

“If these Magistrates’ courts close, there would also be an economic impact on the county. The courts employ many people and the associated businesses contribute a significant amount to the local economy.

“We also want to make it clear what while any changes might represent potential savings to the Ministry of Justice, it will certainly mean additional costs for everyone else- including our already squeezed local police force.

“We understand that money savings need to be made, but we would seek reassurances about how local justice would continue to be delivered in both Grantham and Skegness.”