Local man and MP Luke Hall has made his submission to defend Yate Magistrates Court to the Ministry of Justice’s public consultation on courts and tribunals services in England and Wales. In his submission, Luke champions the benefits of keeping Yate Magistrates Court open as opposed to Bath Magistrate’s and County Court.
The proposals have been made with the aim of reducing surplus capacity by closing courts and tribunals that are unused, underused or unsuitable for the services they need to provide. The submission outlined the detrimental effects of a possible closure on the surrounding area, including job losses, financial losses, and the inconvenience to the public having to travel over an hour to the nearest court.
As well as the consultation submission, Luke has written to the Ministry of Justice asking for assurances that the staff at Yate Magistrates will keep their jobs in the event that the court is chosen for closure.
Speaking of the consultation, Luke said: “I feel very strongly about this issue, Yate Magistrates Court provides a service to the community that many people are dependent on for various reasons. I hope that the Ministry of Justice will agree that it is important for the Yate area to retain this vital asset where it is accessible and visible.”