Townsfolk urged to fight for courts

Campaigners have less than two months to save Newark Magistrates’ Court after it was revealed it is favoured for closure.

The chairman of the bench, Mrs Pam White, who is among those fighting to save the court, said the time-limit focused their minds.

She urged people, whether they had direct influence or not, to join the fight to save the magistrates’ court and Newark County Court, which handles family and care proceedings, small claims and private prosecutions.

A decision is due on December 14 with Senior Presiding Judge Lord Justice Goldring, who is reviewing courts in a bid to save £15.3m a year in running costs, favouring the closure of Newark, Worksop and Retford.

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

“Yes Newark is recommended for closure but do we put our hands up and say it’s over? No.” Mrs White said.

“Next year is the 650th anniversary of the magistracy. If we were good enough for that amount of time, why not now?”

The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, has asked the Justice Minister and Rushcliffe MP, Mr Ken Clarke, to visit the Newark courts.

“I understand every borough and district will be saying the same thing, but the courts are truly important to Newark being so out on a limb into Lincolnshire,” Mr Mercer said.

Solicitor Mr Julian Bruce, of Larkens, said the acute knowledge of local magistrates and lawyers would be lost if cases were moved to Nottingham.

He said the issue of getting defendants to court had been grossly underestimated, as had the effect on Nottinghamshire Police, whose officers would spend a far greater time away from the beat chasing non-attenders or in transit to and from Nottingham for court appearances.

Newark and Sherwood district councillor and retired criminal solicitor Mr David Payne, an advocate at Newark Magistrates’ Court for 40 years, said: “Newark is a Growth Point town and will only get bigger.”

The district council’s strategic director of corporate services, Mrs Kirsty Cole, said each court closure would be supported by a business case yet the district council might have to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act just to see it.

The MP for Sherwood, Mr Mark Spencer, whose constituency is also served by the courts, said: “I want to see the business plan. It all seems very cloak and dagger at the moment.

“My view is that closing Newark would not save that much money at all.

“My biggest concern is that victims or witnesses could find themselves on the same bus or train as the defendant and that could be very intimidating. Cases could collapse over it.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry For Justice earmarked 103 magistrates’ courts in England and Wales for possible closure.

Fifty four county courts in England and Wales are threatened.

Anyone wanting to save Newark Magistrates’ Court is urged to write to Mr Clarke, the Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, or the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Nick Clegg.