The convener of the Fife and Forth Valley Community Justice Authority, Cupar councillor Margaret Kennedy, has described the Scottish Government’s decision to back the closure of Cupar Sheriff Court as “short-sighted”.
The death knell was all but sounded for the future of Cupar, Arbroath and Stonehaven sheriff courts on Friday when proposals from the Scottish Court Service to change the future structure of Scotland’s courts were accepted by the Scottish Government.
The previous week the SCS published its report and recommendations on Shaping Scotland’s Court Services, after its consideration of responses received from public consultation.
The report recommended the closure of 10 sheriff courts and seven justice of the peace courts.
Following careful consideration of the proposed changes set out by the Scottish Court Service on April 9, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, has written to SCS chief executive Eric McQueen, the Lord President, Lord Gill, and the chairman of the Justice Committee to confirm that the Scottish Government has accepted the recommendations.
Mrs Kennedy said: “This is a short-sighted decision based on finances only and not on the wider justice requirements. The drive to cement justice into the fabric of our communities has been completely ignored by this proposed court closure.
“Furthermore, there is the wider effect on the local area in terms of the economy and general fabric of our community. This will manifest itself through a loss of business for local solicitors or shops from footfall at the court.
However, more importantly, (is the effect on) the civic position of Cupar in North-East Fife, extremely sad in this its 800th year.
“I find it remarkable that Kenny MacAskill can make a decision on this within a matter of days, given the fact that this review has been carried out in isolation from the wider community justice family.
“It is not, and should not be, a simple numbers game when we are trying to assess the potential impacts on access to justice and our local economy.
“In making my comments, I would emphasise that I am not against change; however, we need to see the added value or, indeed, the improvements to be created by the change. In this case, I do not feel that these have been proven.”
Concerns have also been expressed by local Fife Liberal Democrat parliamentarians Willie Rennie MSP and Sir Menzies Campbell MP, who have called on the SNP Government to reverse its plans to close Cupar Sheriff Court.
Mr Rennie said: “The SNP government seem not only to be ignoring the views of their local representative, SNP MSP Rod Campbell, but also the vocal and informed opinion of local people.
“A rural area like North-East Fife needs a local court through which justice can be provided to the local community. This is a bad decision for access to justice for victims and also does not provide a local focal point for justice to be seen to be done.
“The town has seen services stripped and sent to Dundee, Glenrothes and elsewhere. Stripping the town of the court is another blow for the area. I will continue to oppose this ill-judged plan.”
Mr Campbell said: “People in North-East Fife will be extremely disappointed and concerned by this decision, which will have an adverse financial impact on many legal firms in and around Cupar.
“The presence of a sheriff court has been an historical and worthwhile feature of our community and police, solicitors, jurors and members of the public will be unnecessarily inconvenienced.”
The Scottish Parliament’s justice committee which includes Roderick Campbell will have the final say.
* MSPs from all parties will get to debate the proposals to close Cupar Sheriff Court in a Scottish Labour debate. The debate highlights the Scottish Government’s decisions to accept all the recommendations from Shaping Scotland’s Court Service.