Exclusive - Newark Magistrates' Court closure favoured

The Senior Presiding Judge, Lord Justice Goldring favours closing Newark Magistrates' Court, it can be revealed.

Earlier this year, the Ministry for Justice earmarked 103 courts in England and Wales it believes it can do without, therefore saving £15.3m a year in running costs and trimming £211/2m from the maintenance bill.

On the cuts list are Newark, Worksop and Retford magistrates' courts.

This would leave just Mansfield and Nottingham with Newark cases tried in the city.

The Advertiser understands that Lord Justice Goldring favours closing both Worksop and Retford courts too.

Newark County Court, which shares the magistrates’ court complex on Magnus Street, would also disappear. Fifty four county courts in England and Wales are threatened.

The campaign to keep the Newark courts open as been hard fought locally.

In revealing the hammer blow, the district council's strategic director of corporate services, Mrs Kirsty Cole said Lord Justice Goldring supports closure.

Speaking at a meeting of the council's external relations overview and scrutiny committee last night (Wednesday), Mrs Cole said the fight goes on though.

Mrs Cole said: "Newark is one of those where the case for closure is being supported.

"The final decision will be made public on December 14. We will continue to lobby."

She said that the decision of the Lord Chief Justice was based on the incorrect premise that local consultees themselves supported closure, when everyone wanted the courts to remain.

She said each court closure is to be supported by a business case. However, the Department for Justice was refusing to make these public.

If the courts do close, the council would press, through its MPs, for the Newark business case to be made public so it could challenge any misconceptions or inaccuracies.

If the MPs were ignored, the council would then submit a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry.

"We haven't given up the fight," said Mrs Cole.

For more on this story and others, see next week's Advertiser.