Sponsored by
Call to save Goole court
GOOLE MP Andrew Percy is calling for residents to get behind the campaign to save the town's Magistrates Court by voicing their objections to Her Majesty's Court Services.
Mr Percy (pictured) who has has raised the issue in the House of Commons twice, wants residents to take part in the consultation process, by either e-mailing or writing to HMCS by the close of the consultation in September.
"My own debate on the proposed closure of Goole and Selby Magistrates was only scheduled for half an hour, of which about 15 mins was given over to the Minister.
"As such I didn't have the opportunity to go into as much depth as I would have liked and that is why I decided to speak up for Goole again in a general debate on the court closures held last week," said Mr Percy.
"This allowed me to develop some of my points in a bit more detail, particularly the issue of the utilisation rate at Goole. HMCS says that part of the reason for closing Goole is that the utilisation rate of the courts (i.e. how much time they are in use for) is very low, standing at between 30-35 per cent.
"I was able to make the point in the recent debate that this figure does not give a true reflection of what is actually going on at Goole because it combines the figures for both Court 1 and Court 2. I am told that the reality is that Court 1 has a much higher utilisation rate and that the combined figure is only so low because Court 2 is used for lots of informal meetings which are not counted."
Mr Percy said he was also able to speak at a bit more length about the need to preserve the magistrate's building as part of the heritage of Goole.
"I am also urging residents to get behind our Court by writing to HMCS to outline their opposition to the plans.
"Key points for people to make in their objections are that getting to Beverley, where the work of Goole will be transferred, is expensive, it is a long way to travel, there is no direct bus service and it will disenfranchise people from accessing justice locally."
Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation should either e-mail hmcs.consultations@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk or write to Sara Edet/Andy Holmes, HMCS Consultation Co-ordinators, 2.37, 2nd Flood, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ.
Mr Percy has asked for copies to be sent to him either via email, at brigg.goole@gmail.com, or by posting them to 81-83 Pasture Road, Goole, DN14 6BP.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Goole
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
