Government's Court Closure Plans Could be 'Final Nail in the Coffin' for Access to Justice Locally

Mayor Dave Hodgson has slammed the Conservative Government's plans to close Bedford Magistrates' Court down altogether. The plans have been published this week as part of proposals for the closure of 97 courts across England. It follows the major downgrading of Bedford Magistrates' Court last year, when the majority of cases other than family court cases ceased in Bedford, including all criminal cases, which were moved to Luton Crown Court. The plans propose to move family court cases to Bedford Employment Tribunal, with other cases moved to Luton.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Following the downgrading of the magistrates' court last year, the government is now trying to put the final nail in the coffin for access to justice locally in Bedford Borough. The proposal is bad news for Bedford town centre, bad news for local jobs and yet more bad news for access to justice for local residents. Alongside the punitive ongoing cuts to the Council's funding, there is a sustained assault by the Government on local public services here in Bedford Borough, and we need to keep up the fight against it."

Consultation on the plans runs until 15th Octobr 2015. You can read the plans (Bedford is included within the South East section) and take part in the consultation here: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/proposal-on-the-provision-of-court-and-tribunal-es