Magistrates' courts nearest to Uckfield could be closed
.jpg "Magistrates' courts nearest to Uckfield could be closed")
Closure of the two magistrates’ courts closest to Uckfield – Lewes and Haywards Heath - has been proposed by the Government.
The Ministry of Justice, through its courts service, is planning a wholesale shake-up of the system to save money, improve efficiency and to offer a better service to users.
A period of consultation will last until September 15.
The court house at Haywards Heath is about 20 years’ old. Operating costs in 2009/10 were £305,918. A maintenance backlog of £640,000 exists.
The work would move to Horsham and Crawley.
The workload of the Lewes court is already being run down and from July 1 it is intended that only a “remand” court will sit there, once a week.
Most of the work is going to Brighton. Operating costs in 2009/10 were £200,260. The maintenance backlog is £50,000.
The proposals also include the closure of the county court at Haywards Heath with the work transferring to Brighton.
Dominic Ponsford, editor of the journalism magazine Press Gazette, said the nationwide court closures could “make it even harder for local media to ensure that justice is seen to be done”.
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(Added to site Friday, June 25th, 2010)
