TWEEDDALE MP David Mundell is calling for a meeting with the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, to discuss the proposed closure of Peebles Sheriff Court.
The court’s closure, with business being transferred to Edinburgh Sheriff Court, is one of a number of cuts being suggested by the Scottish Court Service (SCS).
Mr Mundell is concerned that closing the court in Peebles will threaten access to justice for communities in this rural Border area.
And local Borders councillor Nathaniel Buckingham agrees, saying that the savings involved may be over stated.
The Tweeddale MP, said he fully understood the need for the court service, like all parts of the public sector, to reduce operating costs and save money. However he didn’t believe that the measures proposed – which include the possible closure of one in five Sheriff Courts across Scotland - will necessarily achieve that, and could well lead to a long term decline in access to the justice system.
He said: "Widening access to justice has been highlighted by the Scottish Government as a priority in its recently published justice strategy, but it is difficult to see how a court closure programme on this scale is consistent with that strategy.
"Local courts have an important role within their communities and it is absolutely essential that access to justice remains the core consideration throughout this consultation process."
“I am firmly of the view that Peebles should retain its Sheriff Court which is why I am asking for a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice,” added Mr Mundell.
Councillor Buckingham is also against the proposed closure, pointing out that when the cost of each individual action at Peebles was costed any closure would not make great savings.
“The court is presently located within a building owned and maintained by Scottish Borders Council, and is co-located with the police and social work teams, and so is relatively cost effective and sustainable model . Where are the savings when you have to pay for the police, witnesses etc to travel to Edinburgh, not to mention the loss of police time, something which is far less with a locally based court,” he added.
The closure proposals are presently out to consultation, with community groups and organisations, and members of the public having until 21st December to make their views known.
Apart from raising the proposals directly with Scottish Ministers Mr Mundell wants the public in Tweeddale to make their views known directly to the SCS. “I hope as many constituents as possible can put forward their views, and the best way of doing that is via the SCS’s own consultation document which can be accessed at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/consultations/index.asp,”he said.