Healey gears up for fight to save Rotherham court

JOHN Healey fears “a battle ahead” to save Rotherham Magistrates' Court after the Government failed to rule out its closure.

JOHN Healey fears “a battle ahead” to save Rotherham Magistrates Court after the Government failed to rule out its closure.

The Wentworth and Dearne MP challenged Crispin Blunt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, to guarantee it would stay open during a debate on Tuesday.

Mr Healey said: “Does the Minister agree that the best efforts to reduce re-offending are often based on local courts with good local knowledge, working closely with local agencies?

“We have a very good magistrates court in Rotherham for Rotherham, and a very good one in Barnsley for Barnsley.

“Will he rule out any further magistrates' court closures, which might put local justice in jeopardy?”

Mr Blunt said: “The Right Hon gentleman knows perfectly well that I cannot do that. We have to deliver the whole justice system as efficiently as possible.

“Because of the financial catastrophe that overtook the country under the last administration, of which he played a prominent part in the Treasury, the provision of all court and prison infrastructure has to be examined.”

Mr Healey said after: “I know my concerns about the impact of budget cuts on our local courts are widely shared, including by magistrates.”

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