Justice system workers in Angus should ready themselves to present their arguments in the event of any threat to local courts emerging in the coming weeks.
That is the message from Angus MP Mike Weir as the legal fraternity awaits publication of a Scottish Courts Service consultation document which it is feared may herald bad news for the county.
Initial concerns, founded on an SCS discussion paper, that Forfar sheriff court may find itself at risk of closure have now been overtaken by rumours that feedback from a series of engagement events has now focussed the reform agenda towards Arbroath.
The Angus courts situation was the subject of a meeting between the local legal fraternity, Mr Weir and SNP MSPs Graeme Dey and Nigel Don, and the MP has said that it is now a wait-and-see situation which should become clear by the end of this month.
SCS chiefs have said a public consultation document is being finalised, with publication due on September 21.
Mr Weir, a former dean of the faculty in Angus, said: ”Obviously we are very concerned about the position of courts in Angus. The initial concern was raised around Forfar and that concern has now been raised in relation to Arbroath, but we need to see what is going to come forward.
”Clearly there are different issues in both towns, but there is not use in speculating at this stage until we get a definitive proposal.
”Nothing is final, but whatever the proposal I am sure that there will be many wishing to put forward strong arguments for the local courts and I would urge everyone within the whole justice operation to look very carefully at the document when it is issued and consider what is being proposed.
”The more representations there are to proposals, the more the justice department are going to look at it.
”All Government departments are facing difficulties at the moment and we have to take that on board when reform is being planned, but at the same time the courts are important to local people and it is up to local people to make that view known.”