Magistrates and county courts in the Vale and the valleys controversially axed by the Westminster Government will shut down before the end of the year, Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood and Chris Franks have learnt.
The AMs for South Wales Central, which covers RCT, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, said the decision will remove access to justice further from the people and their communities.
In a letter obtained by Ms Wood and Mr Franks, the Director for Wales for Her Majesty’s Court Services, Clare Pillman, confirmed that Llwynypia magistrates’ will close in June of this year, Aberdare County Court will shut the following month and Aberdare magistrates’ court will cease operating in December of this year. Barry magistrates’ court, which incorporates a domestic violence centre, is also set to close in December 2011.
Ms Wood said: “The Con/Dem coalition is trying to administer justice on the cheap by closing down the main courts in the valleys and the Vale.
“The savings that will be made through this retrograde step are fairly small when compared to the bonus payments being given to bankers at bailed-out institutions, or when compared to the tax avoided or evaded by the super rich of the UK.
“These are all areas that the Westminster coalition has the power to address in order to reduce the deficit but there seems to be more concern with cutting expenditure, thereby stripping away frontline services which will hurt the most vulnerable in our society.”
Ms Wood added: “Journeys will increase for the vast majority of people required to attend court as a result of this move. If you live at the top of the Cynon or either of the Rhondda valleys, it is going to take much longer and cost more to get to Pontypridd magistrates’ court; especially if relying on public transport.
“Will there be a system to monitor whether the amount of money in court time lost as a result of these short-sighted closures will negate any money saved?”
Ms Wood, who is Chair of Cwm Cynon Women’s Aid Board of Trustees, also expressed concern at the impact the closure of Barry magistrates’ court will have on tackling domestic abuse in the area.
“This decision by the Westminster coalition could have a far-reaching impact on the safety of those seeking justice from domestic abuse in the Vale,” said Ms Wood.
“Research has shown that domestic abuse witnesses are much less likely to travel further afield to pursue justice so there are genuine concerns that the reporting of domestic abuse will decline as a result of the closure of the specialist Barry magistrates’ court.”
Mr Franks said the closure of Barry magistrates’ court was a big blow for the town.
“Barry magistrates’ court is an extremely busy court and has superb facilities,” said Mr Franks.
“It has had £1 million spent on its cells recently so they would be capable of handling of violent offenders. This is money that is now going down the drain.
“The consultation appears to have been a complete sham because if the Westminster Government had listened to the opinions of the community, they would never have taken the decision to close Barry magistrates’ court.”
Mr Franks added: “I am also concerned at the impact the court closure will have on legal firms based in the town. Will there be any incentive for these firms to remain if the bulk of their caseload is to be based at a magistrates’ court a lengthy journey away after December of this year?”
