Mayor Slams Government's 'Appalling' Magistrates' Court Closure Decision

Mayor Dave Hodgson has slammed the government's decision to close Bedford Magistrates' Court, saying it will have damaging, long term effects on access to justice for local residents.

The decision to close Bedford Magistrates' Court follows a severe downgrading of it previously via the 'de-listing' of the majority of cases, a move which Mayor Dave warned looked like the Government's first step towards closure.

It is being closed as part of a decsion by the Conservative Government to close 86 courts across England and Wales, despite the fact that the closure proposal for Bedford was opposed overwhelmingly by respondents to the government's consultation, with the opposition spanning members of the public, legal professionals, magistrates, other public services including the council and more.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "This will have damaging, long term effects on access to justice for local residents. It shunts costs onto witnesses, officials, the police, council and others while making the court process more difficult for all. It will make permanent the delays to the administration of justice that we've seen already. For a county town the size of Bedford to lose the court via this appalling decision is bad news for justice, bad news for the town and bad news for local people.'

"Alongside the threat to the future of the hospital as we know it and the punitive cuts to the Council's funding, this is part of a sustained assault by government on local public services in Bedford Borough."