19 October 2010
Peter Aldous has raised the key points made in representations to him on the proposed closure of Lowestoft County Court to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, Jonathan Djanogly MP.

The Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor announced plans to close Lowestoft County Court, along with around 54 other County Courts and 103 Magistrates Courts across the country in June.

Aldous wrote to local solicitors inviting them to make their representations on the proposed closure directly to the Ministry of Justice website at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations.htm but also invited them to write to his office to aid his own submission.

In his letter to Jonathan Djanogly, Aldous concludes that it would be unwise to close Lowestoft County Court for two reasons:

1. Lowestoft County Court serves a relatively remote and in some places deprived area and its closure would risk the delivery of justice to some of the most vulnerable people in society. Its closure would lead to the transfer of work to Norwich and Ipswich which are 27 miles and 45 miles respectively. This part of East Anglia is notorious for its poor transport links.

2. One of the reasons for considering closing these courts is that they are old and outdated and in need of modernisation and a closure would lead to savings in both running and capital costs. This is not the case in Lowestoft, where the court is incorporated in a modern and functionally easy to maintain building which is shared with the Magistrates Courts and which occupies an accessible location close to the town centre and public transport links and next to the main Police Station. The complex was built in 1989 and it was refurbished two years ago at an approximate cost of £800,000. There are excellent backup facilities which are available to County Court including a witness suite and a video link room. If the County Court closes there will be no cost saving and no benefit from a disposal of the property as the building will continue to operate as a Magistrates Court.


Aldous, commenting said:

“The County Court in Lowestoft is a good example of one that should be exempted from closure. It is modern, operates alongside the Magistrates Court and close the Lowestoft Police Station. In addition it has just had almost a million pound refurbishment. I have written to the Minister to ensure he is aware of the case to keep Lowestoft County Court open.”