What devastating news! It was announced on February 11 that the Minister of Justice has seen fit to order the closure of the Kendal courthouse, thereby depriving every single person living in South Lakeland and beyond of local justice. At the same time the courthouse at Workington was spared the axe.
The custom-designed building opened with great fanfare in 1992 by HRH Princess Anne. Kendal was the only remaining courthouse in the area, serving a population of 103,000, our entire South Lakeland population. The irony comes at a time when Kendal is actively recruiting magistrates and tops national leagues!
The decision is totally illogical and wrong on every count. Where is the sense in forcing every one of us to travel to Barrow, our nearest alternative, where car parking is very restricted? The concept of local justice is tossed out of the window. There is no public transport available to attend from outlying towns and villages, certainly impossible to journey there and back in a day.
Every single court that previously sat at Kendal - the Adult Court, Juvenile Court, Family Court has to be transported at least 40 miles along the A590. This means all the court staff, clerks, ushers, magistrates, probation service, witnesses and defendants making the long trek, often an hour each way, especially in the summer months when we all know how congested the roads become, or in adverse weather conditions as recently experienced.
For many years The Westmorland Gazette has faithfully recorded court proceedings. I wonder how many will slip under the radar? Is it possible to guarantee coverage of local events? The writer has serious doubts.
Most import of all, "a Magistrate should be aware of local circumstances". This sentence is taken directly from the newly-appointed Justice to the Peace handbook.
How can a Barrovian magistrate sitting on a case that occurred in Kendal have a clue of local circumstances and geography.
This was a deeply regrettable decision with far reaching ramifications. Perhaps I may suggest, it should be retitled the Ministry of Injustice!
"Local justice for local people!" Humbug!
John Chew
Former magistrate (1990-2008)
Heversham
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