Pass the Parcel - or Pass the Buck?

Salisbury MP Robert Key met Jane Kennedy MP, Minister at the Lord Chancellor's Department, in London this week to press for action on the provision of new Magistrates' Courts for Salisbury and South Wiltshire.

Robert Key said, "The Minister was fully briefed on the situation and her officials had visited the Courts in Salisbury."

Minister Jane Kennedy told Robert Key that the Lord Chancellor's Department had identified funds for the provision of a new Magistrates' Court in South Wiltshire. However, she stressed that the final location for the new courts is in the hands of the Wiltshire Magistrates' Courts Committee. They are currently reviewing options right across Wiltshire. Until they have decided what they want, the Lord Chancellor's Department is in no position to provide the money.

The Lord Chancellor's Department also criticised Wiltshire County Council for dragging their feet. Robert Key said, "The site and buildings would become the property of Wiltshire County Council - even though the Government is funding the buildings on behalf of the taxpayer. I was genuinely surprised that Wiltshire County Council was criticised - and I have asked for an explanation from the Chief Executive of the County Council.

"Our local magistrates in Salisbury, all trained, unpaid volunteers, do a very find job in quite inappropriate courts in Salisbury Guildhall. Those courts are not unacceptable for some of the magistrates' business, which has been transferred either to the County Court in Salisbury or to the Magistrates' Court in Chippenham.

"I have stressed to the Lord Chancellor's Department Minister that we have already taken our share of the pain in rationalisation of courthouses with the closure of Tisbury Magistrates' Court some years ago. Salisbury is the natural and logical choice for new Magistrates' Courts. It really would not make any sense for people in South Wiltshire to have to travel away from Salisbury to the nearest Magistrates' Court. Accordingly, I have now asked the Magistrates' Courts Committee to make a decision in favour of Salisbury as the location of new Magistrates' Courts at the earliest opportunity so that construction can begin.

"I hope we will all support our local lay magistrates who desperately need a new local courthouse, and I hope we will all put pressure on the Wiltshire Magistrates' Courts Committee to make a decision in favour of Salisbury as the best possible location for new courts."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Justices' Chief Executive is Mr Paul Wilcock in Milford Street, Salisbury, Telephone 01722 333225

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