Craven District Council has launched a review into the future of Skipton Magistrates' Court, amid growing concerns that work is being slowly diverted away from the venue with an eventual plan for closure.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic the majority of Skipton's usual workload has been transferred to Harrogate (22 miles away), York (44 miles away) and even Scarborough Magistrates' Courts (82 miles away).
Magistrates now only deal with criminal matters at the Otley Street venue once a fortnight, with work mainly being confined to straightforward, non-custodial, guilty anticipated plea (GAP) cases.
Councillors are rightly very concerned about local access to justice, with some court users, many of whom live in extremely isolated communities, having to travel hundreds of miles to reach hearing venues.
Speaking on an earlier occasion Councillor David Staveley, who also represents the Ribblesdale division on North Yorkshire County Council, described the changes as "absolute lunacy".
He has criticised the superficial level of interest shown by His Majesty Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which failed to send a representative to the first review meeting.
At the meeting, Councillor Staveley said: "It is very disappointing the response that we have had from some of the officers within the judicial system.
"Considering they are indeed public servants as we are... I have to say I think the onus is on them to turn up.
"We are asking them to come and give an account of themselves."
The review is expected to run over the next five months.
No comments:
Post a Comment