§ Lord Phillips of Sudburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many magistrates' courthouses have been closed in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which statistics are available; and what are the locations of such closures. [HL1005]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine or Lairg)Seven magistrates' courthouses closed between September 1995 and the end of 1995; 20 closed in 1996; 22 closed in 1997; 24 closed in 1998; 8 closed in 1999; 12 closed in 2000; and 21 have closed in 2001 to date. The table below shows the location and date of closure. Information prior to September 1995 is not available.
50WA
Magistrates Courthouse Closure Date Nottingham (Guildhall) 30 November 1995 Nottingham (Sand Field House) 30 November 1995 Bala 31 December 1995 Hunstanton 31 December 1995 Pembroke 31 December 1995 Tywyn 31 December 1995 Whitminster 31 December 1995 Bromley (South Street) 28 February 1996 Mansfield (Commercial Street) 28 February 1996 Hornsea 31 March 1996 Howden 31 March 1996 Market Weighton 31 March 1996 Old Street 12 July 1996 Halstead 31 August 1996 Biddulph 30 September 1996 Cheadle 30 September 1996 Kidsgrove 30 September 1996 Tonbridge 31 October 1996 Amlwch 31 December 1996 Bedale 31 December 1996 Blaenau Festiniog 31 December 1996 Easingwold 31 December 1996 East Dereham 31 December 1996 Ingleton 31 December 1996 Leyburn 31 December 1996 Llangollen 31 December 1996 Thirsk 31 December 1996 Pontardawe 23 March 1997 Ellesmere Port 31 March 1997 Hampstead 31 March 1997 Marylebone (185 Marylebone Road) 31 March 1997 Otley 31 March 1997 Seaham 31 March 1997 Bromsgrove 31 May 1997 Ledbury 31 May 1997 Hebburn 5 June 1997 South Shields (Kepple Street) 5 June 1997 Bargoed 30 June 1997 Chippenham (Market Place) 30 June 1997 Monmouth 30 June 1997 Pontlottyn 30 June 1997 Pontypool 30 June 1997 Ashton under Lyne (Manchester Road) 31 August 1997 51WA
Magistrates Courthouse Closure Date Duckinsfield 31 August 1997 Thorne 31 August 1997 Braintree 31 December 1997 Clacton on Sea 31 December 1997 Saffron Walden 31 December 1997 Stokesley 31 December 1997 Malton 6 February 1998 Appleby 31 March 1998 Bishop's Stortford 31 March 1998 Chertsey 31 March 1998 Farnham 31 March 1998 Hatfield 31 March 1998 Hitchin 31 March 1998 Market Rasen 31 March 1998 Marlborough Street 31 March 1998 Oxted 31 March 1998 Lutterworth 31 July 1998 Ripon 1 August 1998 Barnard Castle 31 December 1998 Clerkenwell 31 December 1998 Corwen 31 December 1998 Diss 31 December 1998 Felixstowe 31 December 1998 Haverhill 31 December 1998 Lytham 31 December 1998 Newmarket 31 December 1998 Saxmundham 31 December 1998 Sheerness 31 December 1998 Stowmarket 31 December 1998 West Mailing 31 December 1998 Abingdon 31 March 1999 Christchurch 31 March 1999 Henley on Thames 31 March 1999 Morley 31 March 1999 Pudsey 31 March 1999 Windsor 31 March 1999 Stow on the Wold 30 June 1999 March 31 December 1999 Ampthill 1 January 2000 Biggleswade 1 January 2000 Dunstable 1 January 2000 Leighton Buzzard 1 January 2000 Lichfield 31 March 2000 Keighley 1 April 2000 Keswick 30 April 2000 Appleby 31 May 2000 Windermere 31 May 2000 Wigton 31 May 2000 Wootton Bassett 2 October 2000 Abergele 31 December 2000 Alfreton 1 January 2001 Ashbourne 1 January 2001 Bakewell 1 January 2001 Matlock 1 January 2001 Leigh 31 March 2001 Middleton 31 March 2001 Leek 31 March 2001 Worcester 31 March 2001 Macclesfield Park Green 1 April 2001 Warrington Patten Hall 1 April 2001 Bideford 30 April 2001 Exmouth 30 April 2001 Kingsbridge 30 April 2001 South Molton 30 April 2001 Teignmouth 30 April 2001 Tavistock 30 April 2001 Axminster 4May 2001 Tiverton 4 May 2001 Newquay 30 June 2001 Womborne 31 August 2001 Gillingham 30 September 2001
§ Lord Phillips of Sudburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many magistrates' courts are currently under consideration for closure; and what are the locations of the same. [HL1006]
The Lord ChancellorI am aware that 10 magistrates' courts committees are currently considering courthouse closures. These are Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Surrey, Durham, North Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Greater Manchester, West Mercia, West Midlands and the Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority. Magistrates' courts committees are not statutorily required to inform me of proposed courthouse closures which are not subject to an appeal by its paying authority or authorities. Decisions concerning the number, location and future of magistrates' courts are for each magistrates' courts committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority or authorities.
Recently, Norfolk County Council lodged its appeal to me against the Norfolk magistrates' courts committee's determination to close Fakenham magistrates' court. I have not yet made my decision.