North East Liberal Democrats today criticised the Scottish Government on the eve of local court closures in Stonehaven and Arbroath.
Alison McInnes MSP, who is also the Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson, said: “It is lamentable that the Scottish Government has refused to listen to local concerns. This is the end of an era.”
In April last year SNP ministers approved Scottish Court Service proposals which are resulting in the closure of nearly one in five sheriff courts, including Arbroath and Stonehaven. Seven justice of the peace courts are also shutting, again including Arbroath and Stonehaven.
Court business will be transferred on Friday 30 May from Arbroath to Forfar and from Stonehaven to Aberdeen.
Courts in Annan, Cumbernauld, Irvine, Motherwell, Portree, Stornoway, Wick, Dornoch, Kirkcudbright and Rothesay were shut in November 2013. Cupar’s court also closes this week, with business transferring to Dundee. Those in Dingwall, Duns, Haddington and Peebles will close in January 2015.
Mrs McInnes said: “Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that justice is best delivered as locally as possible. Shifting cases to Forfar and Aberdeen respectively will cause major inconvenience for people travelling to court.”
The North East MSP continued: “Furthermore the court reform Bill which is currently going through parliament will mean that there will be more civil work for local courts. Aberdeen court in particular is already extremely busy, and we could soon see a situation where increased delays in the justice process are inevitable.”
Stonehaven councillor Peter Bellarby said: “I am bitterly disappointed that the Scottish Government has pressed ahead with the closure of the courts in Stonehaven in spite of overwhelming public opposition.
“The day the courts close will be a sad day for Stonehaven. This will bring to an end a long tradition over many centuries. Over that time the courts have served the people of Stonehaven and the Mearns well. Stonehaven will be the poorer without them.”
North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison added: “Over my career I have attended justice of the peace, burgh, sheriff, juvenile, and high courts. They work best when they are based in the community the serve. Justice should be seen to be done, and that means being accessible.”