THE fight is on to save Okehampton Magistrates? Court for the second time in three years, after claims that cases have been deliberately taken away to justify closure.
Okehampton was saved from the axe three years ago after a strong case was put forward to retain it, particularly because of its accessibility in the centre of Devon.
But since that time the weekly court, which operates from the borough council?s offices in Oaklands Drive, has been reduced to fortnightly and all criminal cases relocated to Exeter or other courts in Devon.
Okehampton presently deals with cases such as those involving Trading Standards, the Environment Agency, local authorities, non-payment of council tax and vehicle excise licences.
The courts committee says a low workload and the unsuitability of the building make Okehampton appropriate for closure, although all views would be taken into account when the proposal became the subject of a formal consultation process.
It is suggesting that defendants have the option of going to Exeter or Launceston to have their cases heard.
Chief executive of the borough council David Incoll said the authority was ?very annoyed? by this proposal: ?The courts committee is using the argument that there is not often business to justify keeping the court open, but we feel cases have been deliberately taken away from Okehampton.
?We have been lobbying against this and have approached both the courts committee and the Crown Prosecution Service, and each suggests the other is to blame.?
Mr Incoll said the council would be using the Government?s ?Rural Proofing? criteria which dealt with facilities and issues in rural areas to fight the proposal ?all the way.?
?Last year Tavistock Magistrates? Court closed and if Okehampton goes the same way there will be no court between Plymouth and Barnstaple which is an incredible distance,? he added.
?Not only will there be problems with people getting to court, but the few that are left will not be able to cope with a greater workload.?
John Burnett said this was another example of a push by successive governments towards the centralising of services which he ?strongly deplored?
?We worked hard to retain Okehampton magistrates? court three years ago and it would be a grave mistake to go ahead with closure, because justice should be done and be seen to be done locally,? he said.
?Criminal law reforms should involve lay people, both in the magistrates? system and the jury system. Furthermore, when dealing with antisocial behaviour I believe local magistrates are in the best position to deal with these type of difficult offences.?
Mr Burnett, who will be raising the issue in the House of Commons, said there had been a deliberate policy to try and justify closure by taking cases away from Okehampton, and that was simply not acceptable.
?We have very poor transport links from rural areas and any cost savings by closing the court will be swallowed up by an increase in the time and expense of getting police and witnesses to court,? he said.
Chief executive of Devon and Cornwall Magistrates? Court Committee Robert Hutley said despite what people might think, there had been no conspiracy to close Okehampton court.
?There are a large number of cases that cannot be dealt with at Okehampton
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