It has been announced that, following a long campaign by Ben Howlett, the Member of Parliament for Bath, the Bath Magistrates’ and County Court will be saved from closure.
The Ministry of Justice announced in July last year that it intended to reform the HM Courts and Tribunals Service, which could have included the closure of the Bath Magistrates’ and County Court.
Ben’s campaign included securing and leading a debate in the House of Commons, a visit to discuss the future of the courts with court staff and a city-wide survey of his constituents’ views, which gave strong evidence for his successful consultation response.
After hearing the news, Ben Howlett said: ‘I am thrilled to learn that Bath Magistrates’ and County Court is to be saved from closure.
“The court plays a crucial role in the community and its retention will mean that some users will not have to travel miles to access the justice system.
“After speaking with employees at the court when I visited last summer, I learnt of their large work load and excellent service they offer residents in Bath and the wider rural areas. It is right that this work stays within Bath.
“When I consulted the people of Bath about how they felt about the proposed closure, the response was clear.
“With over 85% of Bath residents saying that they did not want the court to be closed, it is only right that the Government have listened.
“In my submission to the consultation, I spoke about improving the use of Bath court and the wider estate, bringing in support services into the building so offenders who need help do not have to travel long distances to receive it.
“I will be continuing to work with the local and court and interested service providers to see if, given the court service is here to stay, we can better utilise it to help the wider community.
“I am absolutely delighted that the Magistrates who will be hearing cases relating to Bath will have a unique insight into the area they are presiding over.
“This for me is a crucial part of effective local justice, and would have been sadly lost if our local court had closed. I am thrilled the court will remain open to serve local residents and I look forward to working to improve the service it offers.”
