Call for report into impact of court closures
A PANEL of MPs has called for views on the impact of court closures including Halton magistrates in Runcorn.
The Environmental Audit Committee has asked for written evidence into and the role ‘sustainability plays in the Ministry Of Justice’s (MOJ) departmental policy-making, governance, procurement, estate management and operations’.
A UK parliamentary spokeswoman said the panel has heard reports that some courts have been ‘left to decay’ after being closed.
Other topics in the review include courts, prisons, digitalisation and general issues.
Halton Magistrates’ Court in Runcorn shut on Friday, January 13, despite opposition and claims it was more efficient than other sites.
The closure added to a concentration of large vacant and or derelict former government office buildings in the Halton Lea ward area.
The review also covers the closures of Warrington County Court and St Helens Magistrates’ Court. Among the issue to be examined are: ● What impact do courts and tribunal buildings have on civic centres and towns? ● What are the potential environmental consequences of ‘modernising’ the HM Courts And Tribunal Services estate and have these been adequately fac- ● tored in by the MOJ? ● Will any environmental conditions be attached to the sale of courts and what contingencies are in place to manage decaying buildings and sites that cannot be sold?
The parliamentary spokeswoman said: “The MOJ is one of the largest government depart- ments, employing about 70,400 people, including those in the probation service.
“There have been a number of recent developments in the MOJ which have sustainability implications.
“For example, the department’s ongoing programme to close courts to reduce maintenance and running costs – 142 announced in 2010 and a further 86 in 2016 – and the expansion of prison places, including the closure of old prisons and building of nine new prisons, may have environmental implications in terms of disposal, new build and transport.
“The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Thursday, March 30.
“Submissions should be no longer than 3,000 words.”
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