Housing proposal set to evict family courts
Consultation launched into plans to relocate service
A consultation period has begun into plans to move the county’s busiest family court to Maidstone. The proposals would see hearings at Medway County and Family Court in Chatham relocated to the County Town.
It comes as a result of the landlord of the Anchorage House site in Chatham wanting to redevelop the site for residential use.
They want to transform the site to provide some 81 homes.
If, after the four-week consultation period, the plans are approved, it would see the Maidstone Combined Court - home to the town’s Crown and County courts - expanded by five courtrooms to accommodate the additional demand.
That would cost millions of pounds, but it is hoped the embracing of technology during the recent health crisis will help ease workloads.
Efforts by the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to extend its existing lease on the building in Chatham have so far failed to make progress. It is currently due to end in January 2021. Hopes to find another suitable location in Medway have also come to nothing.
Instead, Maidstone’s court on Barker Road, more than 11 miles away, will have to increase its capacity and more cases will be heard over the phone and via video link.
This process has been effectively tested during the pandemic and is set to become a permanent feature in the justice system. Donna Bolton, delivery director for HMCTS in the South East, said the long-term plan, set out last year, is to focus on main strategic centres in the major towns and cities with the best transport links, which means “consolidating” buildings and investing in the ones that remain.
Ms Bolton said: “Whilst there were no immediate plans to reduce our estate in Kent, circumstances outside our control has meant that we have to vacate the county court building in Medway.
“We are therefore consulting on the relocation of civil and family court business to Maidstone.” The proposals show up to £12million could be spent building an additional five courtrooms at Maidstone, while also moving some work out of Medway Magistrates’ Court to free up space. Upgrades in Maidstone would not be complete until late next year. This means civil and family work would temporarily have to be shared between other sites across the county such as Dartford, Canterbury, Thanet and Maidstone to help cope with demand.
The scheme is subject to a consultation, which launched on July 14, and lasts four weeks.