Specialists in pursuing claims for people harmed through work or during medical treatment
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6th Jul 2010
Local solicitors fight to save Barnsley court
Solicitors have launched a campaign to save Barnsley County Court after it was earmarked for closure under Government proposals.
Barnsley is listed as one of 54 civil courts nationwide which could be axed in a Government cost cutting .jpg)
exercise which could affect 157 county and magistrates in all.
In recent years there has been talk of the County Court re-locating to the Magistrates Court in Barnsley, which is a plan the Civil Judges in Barnsley are in favour of as it could be done at minimal cost, increase the utilisation of that building and would retain a much used and needed civil court in Barnsley.
However, the recently released consultation papers state that Barnsley’s workload will be moved to Sheffield Combined Court and Family Hearing Centre – more than an hour’s journey away for most Barnsley residents. Under the proposals both Doncaster and Rotherham would keep their county courts.
Jenny Garbutt, a personal injury specialist at Raleys Solicitors, said the closure plans were an outrage.
“This can’t be allowed to happen. The people of Barnsley need access to justice on their doorstep not 16 miles away.
“The consultation notes state it is a journey of up to 31 minutes by train with a 15 minute walk to the court from the station, which is misleading. For most people it will take well over an hour each way.
“The report assumes everyone lives in Barnsley town centre, their mobility is good and they will travel from Barnsley Interchange. The reality is that most people in Barnsley don’t live in or around the interchange so would have to use another form of transport to get there or get to Sheffield by different means altogether. There is also an issue for people when they arrive with a 15 minute walk ahead of them, especially if they have mobility problems.”
As well as the practicalities of getting to the court, Jenny said there is also concern about the escalated expense of a case being heard in Sheffield.
“Inevitably moving the court miles away is going to have an impact on costs. At a time when people are tightening their purse strings for all sorts of reasons, making them pay extra to travel some distance to their nearest court is unfair and will impede access to justice.”
The proposals are now in the consultation stage which means local businesses and members of the public have a chance to tell the Government what they think of the plans.
“It is vitally important we send a strong message to the Government telling them ‘no’ and we are asking all Barnsley residents to get behind our campaign and take part in the consultation,” said Jenny.
“We want to send a clear message on behalf of the people of Barnsley that our court is important and should not be closed.”
“The consultation document, which contains a questionnaire for members of the public to complete can be found on-line at www.justice.gove.uk/consultations/docs/proposal-on-the-provision-of-courts-services-humber-southyorkshire-final.pdf
Raleys will be happy to provide anyone with a copy or if they would prefer to let us know their comments we can include them in our response.
“We also have to consider what would happen to the building if it should close,” said Jenny.
“The county court is a Grade II listed building. To lose it will also be losing a part of Barnsley’s heritage. It is a beautiful Italianate style building steeped in history and it should be able to continue providing what it has provided for years – justice for Barnsley people.”
Ends
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