Civic leaders hit out at bid to move Shrewsbury courts
Civic leaders in the north of the county have hit out at the move to close Shrewsbury Magistrates Court and for all future cases to be heard in Telford.
They say key services and facilities are being taken "out of the reach" of people living in rural areas.
They are concerned by the added cost and time it will take for witnesses, defendants and their family and friends to travel to Telford compared with Shrewsbury.
The move will also see Shrewsbury Crown Court moved from its current base at Shirehall into the vacated magistrates' premises nearby in Preston Street.
The decision has been taken by the Ministry of Justice following consultation launched in July last year.
Councillor John Murray, mayor of Wem, said: "We are losing another service and they are not centralising anything anymore.
"They are taking facilities out of the reach of people in rural areas.
"I have been against these courts moving ever since they closed the one in Market Drayton.
"People are already stressed about going to court without having to worry about finding transport and the extra cost of getting there.
"If you are a person living in Whixall and have not got a car imagine trying to get there."
Councillor Ian Ward, mayor of Ellesmere, said: "Obviously it will increase the distance people will have to travel, which will make it more inconvenient.
"The justice system is getting further away from people. We used to have a court in Ellesmere, then it was centralised to Oswestry and then to Shrewsbury." Councillor Roy Aldcroft, mayor of Market Drayton, added: "So much for local justice. Distances for accused and witnesses to travel will become a problem for those reliant on public transport.
"It will also mean police officers attending will be away from duty for longer.
"It would seem the justice ministry considers Telford will provide enough work to justify a presence there. We and Shrewsbury must be well behaved to justify the loss of the courts."
No timescale has yet been put forward for the crown court's move, although Shrewsbury Magistrates Court will close some time between now and June.
The Shropshire branch of the Magistrates Association had objected to the closure on the basis that it would restrict access to justice by making it "difficult or impossible" for some people to get to Telford by 9.30am.
In its response the Ministry of Justice said it accepted that some people would face increased travel times but added that they could make individual applications to have their cases heard at different times.
