Justice should be LOCAL

IT is a basic principle of justice that someone accused of a crime should have their case heard firstly by local people.

But the plans to shut down Northwich courthouse, and move Vale Royal cases to other courts around the county, could put this right in jeopardy.

The shock news has come as the county's Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCC) responds to new guidelines from the government.

Under laws passed last year, British courts committees have to use money from the private sector to keep their courts up to scratch for the next 25 years.

This means calling in developers to refurbish existing courthouses, and to build new ones - they will then own the buildings, with the committees effectively renting them.

But the MCC's plans will NOT include Northwich.

Chief Executive Colin Turner said: "The committee cannot see any provision for a courthouse in Northwich.

"That is based on the current age and situation of the building, but also on the amount of work that is done there, which in our view is not enough. We don't believe we can justify the spending."

The committee is now putting together a bid to get its last public allocation from Westminster.

Mr Turner will tell the Lord Chancellor that he has two options for Cheshire. These are:

Four magistrates' courts, one in Chester, one in Crewe, and two new ones somewhere near Macclesfield and Warrington, to replace the courthouses in those towns.

Three courts, as above, but with Crewe also closing.

Under either system, Vale Royal would be divided into four sectors, and so for example, defendants and witnesses from Winsford would be sent to Chester, while those from Northwich would go to Warrington. Mr Turner added: "Either way, there is no future for Northwich Magistrates' Court."

Employment is not believed to be a key issue in the shake-up, with court clerks and other officers transferring to the remaining courts.

But many part-time ushers and magistrates, who believe the effort of travel would be too great, say they will simply hand in their cards.

And it is from magistrates and solicitors that the cries for help are coming.

Northwich solicitor Chris Johnson said: "Justice should be local.

"The criminal justice system relies heavily on the witnesses to any incident having the goodwill and public spirit to attend court and give evidence.

"The more difficult it gets to travel to court, the more likely this idea is to discourage people from making that vital contribution."

A local magistrate, who asked not to be named, agreed, adding: "Very often, these people cannot travel by car, and rely on public transport. To have to go from Winsford or Northwich to Chester would be both costly and impractical for them.

"The police and the courts spend their time and money appealing for people to come forward to give evidence that is vital to the cases we handle.

"How can that appeal work when will be asking them to travel 80 or more miles in a day to do it?"

Other counties are already submitting their bids under the new scheme, but in most cases they have met with a better response because they have tried to centralise the courts, rather than put them on the outskirts of the county.

In Herefordshire, courts in the outlying areas were shut down and transferred to a new 'super-court' in Hereford city centre.

The move suited everyone because the city is right in the middle of the county.

The local magistrate said: "That would seem to make sense in a way that this idea doesn't.

"Centralising it all in Northwich is surely a more reasonable idea than putting everything out on the borders.

"Our courthouse is not everyone's favourite place to visit. But it is integral to this area's identity. To remove it would strip Vale Royal of an essential service that makes it an important place."

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