Spalding’s magistrates court could close for good at the end of a public consultation on its future in just a couple of weeks’ time.
No cases have been heard at the court since January, but Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal service (HMCTS) is now inviting anyone with an interest in the court to have a say on its plans to take the court out of service.
People have until August 12 to fill in a questionnaire, which asks for comments on its recommended closure and the impact it will have.
Since January, court cases have been heard in Boston, which HMCTS says has the spare capacity to take on the work and is better equipped.
It says money is currently being spent to retain a court which is not needed and it is hoped that the sell-off of the court site could raise £200,000.
A further £40,000 annual operational costs, including maintenance, security, IT and utilities would be saved.
Spalding Magistrates’ Court building was built in 1843 and is Grade II listed.
Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service claims making “sympathetic” repairs to the building is too costly.
In its consultation document, it says: “The court has received a steady rate of investment for repairs over the years but the enhancements required to make the court fully functional have become disproportionate.”
The decision to stop hearing cases at Spalding and transfer them to Boston was taken for a number of reasons, including:
lthere is no van dock
lthe loading and unloading yard is overlooked by private houses, in contravention of the Criminal justice Human Rights Act
lthere is no air lock between exterior rooms and custody rooms or between custody rooms and interview rooms, which increases the risk of a prisoner escaping;
- cells are not fit for purpose
- the staircase from the custody suite is very narrow and steep with limited headroom and it is not possible for a prisoner to be handcuffed, increasing the risk of them using violence against an officer or attempting to escape
- the dock in one courtroom is not secure;
- the witness waiting room is not fit for purpose
- court layout is very restrictive.
The report says: “It provides poor quality accommodation for agency staff, witnesses, prisoners and disabled people and the building poses a number of safety risks.”
HMCTS is now looking at just two options for the court – it remains open in its current state or is closed.
Closing it is the preferred option with cases continuing to be listed at Boston, which HMCTS says has “excellent accommodation facilities and is fully accessible to disabled users”.
The consultation states users can get to Boston from Spalding in about 25 minutes by car, or 49 minutes by bus for a return cost of £7.25, which it describes as “reasonable”.
To take part in the survey, go to https://consult.justice.gov.uk/
