Bath Magistrates Court saved from closure –
local Conservatives welcome news
23/06/2010Local Conservatives in Bath have welcomed the news that Bath Magistrates’ Court has been saved from closure following the publication of Government consultation paper on the future of Magistrates’ Courts in the country
When the previous Labour Government began drawing up proposals for reorganising the Magistrates system before the General Election, it was feared that Bath Magistrates Court was one of those at high risk of closure. Local Conservatives in the city campaigned against the possible closure during the General Election campaign.
Now, the Government’s consultation papers propose continuing to operate Magistrates’ courts in Bristol, Yate, Bath, Yeovil, Worle and Taunton, and instead closing those in Bridgwater and Frome.
Bath councillor Anthony Clarke (Cons, Lansdown), who helped campaign to save Bath’s Magistrates’ Court, said:
“Bath residents will be very pleased that the Government has stated that it plans to keep Bath’s Magistrates’ Court open. Local Conservatives fought hard to keep a Magistrates’ Court in Bath before the election, arguing that it provides a good local service that it’s important for community justice to be kept as local as possible. So it is great news that the new Government has confirmed that Bath’s court does not now form part of its plans for reorganisation.”
