Rochdale Magistrates Court will close

Rochdale Magistrates Court

Rochdale Magistrates Court will close under government plans to deliver a ‘modern, efficient justice system.’

The announcement was made today (Tuesday 14 December 2010) by Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly.

Rochdale is one of 93 Magistrates Courts and 49 County Courts in England and Wales that will close.

Reasons for the closures vary from insufficient workload to the lack of appropriate facilities for victims and witnesses.

Vivien Carter who has campaigned for Rochdale Magistrates Court to remain open said the news is “devastating.”

Ms Carter said the closure will have a “huge impact” on the borough. She added: “It doesn’t make any sense.”

The work of Rochdale Magistrates Court will now be merged with Bury Magistrates Court. Meaning extended journeys for all involved in the court process, including victims and witnesses.

Bury Magistrates Court does not have disabled access meaning the Magistrates from Rochdale which are disabled will be moved to other courts which can accommodate them.

“This isn’t the outcome we wanted,” said Ms Carter, “The things Jonathan Djanogly listed courts need is what we have and now they are going to take it away.

“It just doesn’t stack up.”

Mr Djanogly said: “Access to justice is not just about access to buildings. It's about the type of justice delivered, decent facilities for victims and witnesses and efficient use of the system.

“Our court estate has simply not kept pace with the changing nature of our society or with the demands modern society places on our justice system. An estate of over 500 court buildings is not now necessary or sustainable, nor is it a reasonable expense for the taxpayer.

“We are closing the worst courts in the estate - so we can concentrate our limited resources on the best ones. We are investing in the court estate with new buildings and with refurbishment of facilities.

“We have listened to the significant points made by respondents to the consultation. As a result we have decided not to close 15 courts which were included in the consultation.

“There will be longer journeys for some to their closest court but we should not operate courts just to shave minutes off a journey that many will never need to make.”
Of the list considered by the government for closure just ten magistrates' courts and five county courts are to be retained.

The Leader of the Conservative Party in Rochdale, Councillor Ashley Dearnley described the announcement as “more bad news for Rochdale.”

He said: “It is very sad after all the effort and importance of the service that Rochdale is losing it.

“Thank you to everyone for their excellent campaign.

“This is yet another blow to Rochdale.

“It is an excellent facility with really good local Magistrates and hopefully they will carry on.

“It is just so unfair that Rochdale is losing out on a building that is so hard to be used for anything else.”

The Leader of the Independent Alliance Party, Councillor Greg Couzens, said: “This is very sad for Rochdale.

“Its interesting that they can spend £14m refurbishing the police station – then we heard that there won’t be any cells – it is sounding like this was a done deal from the start.

“I believe, when arrests are made in Rochdale officers will have to travel as far as Wigan and then back again. That means officers off the street – is this the most efficient use of resources?”

The acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Dale Mulgrew, said: "This is a blow to Rochdale. I commend the campaign ran by the Rochdale Magistrates.

“It made sense for Rochdale to be the preferred location over Bury.

“This will have an impact on the Town Centre but also on local justice.

“I hope the government will consider the suggestion from the Local Government Association that local justice can prevail through setting up temporary courts in the Council Chamber and the Town Hall because it is essential that local justice is preserved in some form.”

The Leader of the Labour party, Councillor Colin Lambert was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.