Future of courthouse is in government's hands

Announcement will be made 'early in the new year' as consultation closes

THE CONSULTATION is closed and the future of local justice at Newbury’s courthouse is now in the hands of the Government.

Yesterday (Wednesday) a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, Mark Kram, told the Newbury Weekly News: “All the responses will be individually considered and the decision about Newbury’s courthouse will be announced early in the new year.”

He said he could not give a specific date.

West Berkshire Magistrates Court is among 91 courts and tribunals in England and Wales which the Government has described as “underused” and is recommending for closure.

In 2010, following a determined campaign by interested parties including magistrates, solicitors, the Newbury Weekly News, Newbury MP Richard Benyon and other local politicians, it was announced by the Lord Chancellor that the Newbury courthouse would be saved from the axe.

But then, in 2013, this newspaper reported how Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service had downgraded Newbury’s court to ‘satellite’ status and removed its security guard.

This led to defendants who had been sentenced to imprisonment simply walking away and going on the run; to magistrates being shouted down and threatened and, eventually, the transferal to Reading courthouse of cases potentially involving custodial sentences.

Domestic violence cases and other serious matters were also then deemed unsuitable for Newbury and court sittings were slashed from five days per week to just one.

Meanwhile, staff at Reading said they were overwhelmed and current local cases are sometimes being adjourned until the middle of next year.

This week, Mr Benyon repeated his accusation that the Newbury court had been deliberately underused to justify current closure proposals.

Under these proposals, victims, witnesses, and legal representatives from across West Berkshire will be required to travel to Reading, Slough or Maidenhead, arriving no later than 9.30am.

Mr Benyon said he had personal respect and affection for his Conservative colleague, courts minister Shailesh Vara, whom he had lobbied extensively.

But he added: “I remain deeply concerned by the way the court has been run down and by the failure to include Newbury in the prisoner escort programme.

“It’s a travesty.”

In 2013 Mr Benyon wrote to the head of constitutional policy at the Ministry of Justice, Chris Jennings, stating: “I’m determined to stop this closure by stealth.

“It’s short-termism – a few years ago a lot of money was spent improving the court’s custody suite.

“What a waste of money that was.

“Either we have local justice or we don’t; either you abide by the decision of the highest legal officer in the country or you don’t.

“I’m determined to see that we do.”

Then in July came the new threat to the court’s survival.

Those who have participated in the consultation, and lobbied for the retention of a Newbury court, include Mr Benyon, West Berkshire Council, the probation service, the Newbury Weekly News, local solicitors and Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Anthony Stansfeld.