SOLICITORS have warned that the already very busy Grimsby And Cleethorpes Magistrates' Court could be deluged with new work if a neighbouring court closes.
Speculation dramatically increased this week that Scunthorpe's court was being earmarked for closure – despite official denials.
There have been growing fears for several years that the Scunthorpe magistrates' building, which also includes a county court, could be under serious threat of closure.
The court has repeatedly been tipped for closure and many in the local legal fraternity were surprised when it escaped the axe in the last round of cutbacks, which saw dozens of courts across the country shut down.
Whispers that the Scunthorpe court was due to be closed down in a new wave of cutbacks surfaced again last week – and have gathered pace since then.
But a spokesman for Her Majesty's Courts And Tribunals said: "No decision has been made to close Scunthorpe Magistrates' Court.
"Her Majesty's Courts And Tribunals continues to keep the use of its estate under review to ensure it meets operational requirements.
"Any proposals to close courts beyond those already announced will be subject to consultation."
If the court does close, defendants, witnesses and solicitors would be forced to travel significant distances to other courts.
It is likely that cases currently heard at Scunthorpe would, if the court closed, be transferred mainly to Doncaster or Grimsby magistrates' courts.
Cases from the Epworth area would be likely to be moved to Doncaster while those from the Barton-upon-Humber and Brigg areas would almost certainly be shifted to Grimsby.
The Scunthorpe court is not as busy as Grimsby, which has recently seen a significant increase in the daily work being handled by individual courts because of the amalgamation and scrapping of some courts.
If Grimsby had to take on much of Scunthorpe's work, it is likely to have a serious knock-on effect on its workload.
Defence solicitor Nigel Sloane, of Grimsby firm Roy Foreman & Co, said: "I prosecuted and defended criminal cases in Scunthorpe for a number of years.
"All my colleagues will be very disappointed and concerned at such a move. Closure would restrict access to justice for local people and cut an important service that delivers local, accessible and efficient justice to the local communities.
"Local courts are vital to the communities we live in. A local court offers the opportunity to see justice done and to bridge the gap between crime and its detection and resolution.
"Devastating cuts are being implemented in the criminal justice system and this is another example.
"I fear the justice system will descend into chaos, with miscarriages of justice and the wheels grinding to a halt. Can this really be a move for the better?"
