The closure of Arbroath, Cupar and Stonehaven sheriff courts could be rubber-stamped by MSPs, despite a last-ditch attempt by Scotland’s opposition leaders to halt the plans.
Labour’s Johann Lamont, Conservative Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats have written an open letter to the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee, asking its members to support a motion to annul the court closure proposals put forward by opposition MSPs.
Ten sheriff courts, including Cupar, Arbroath and Stonehaven, have already been marked for closure, alongside 16 justice of the peace courts, after Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill backed Scottish Court Service recommendations.
The letter urges SNP members to “vote against the closure of local courts and stand up for local services, jobs, businesses and proper access to justice”.
It adds: “The court closures mean that in a number of cases witnesses, the police and victims will have to travel further to see justice done. Not only do these plans greatly limit access to justice, they also threaten to increase costs.”
The letter claims plans to close a fifth of sheriff courts could damage efforts to achieve diverse, successful local economies.
The committee comprises four opposition MSPs, four SNP members including North East Fife’s Rod Campbell and convener Christine Grahame, who also faces seeing one of her local courts shut and independent John Finne, who is expected to vote with the Government.
That means both Mr Campbell, who has raised concerns publicly about the plans to close Cupar, and Ms Grahame’s votes will almost certainly have a massive impact.
Ms Lamont said: “Both the future of local access to justice and local economies are at stake tomorrow. SNP MSPs need to come to their senses and think again about their damaging plans.”
Mr Rennie said it was “very difficult” to justify the “chaotic and cavalier” closure proposals, while Ms Davidson said: “The Scottish Government has clearly not thought through the damaging impact these proposals will have on rural communities in their rush to slash costs.”