Mounting concern over plan to close court

As reported in the Yorkshire Post on Monday, the court, in Regent Street, has been earmarked for closure by Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS) as part of a nationwide programme.

But disquiet has been voiced in several sections of the community about the plans, with concerns raised that people will be discouraged from seeking justice if the building is shut.

Under HMCS plans, all work that is currently dealt with in Barnsley would be transferred to Sheffield. There are no plans to close similar courts in Rotherham or Doncaster.

Barnsley Council's housing and community safety scrutiny commission is holding its meeting at Barnsley Town Hall at 2pm tomorrow to consider what members called "the implications of this significant proposal".

Chairman of the committee Coun Karen Dyson, said: "As a former debt and housing advisor at the Citizen's Advice Bureau, I'm all too aware of how important the role of the county court is. In a borough the size of Barnsley, there are people who already have difficulty in travelling to the town centre and accessing the court, but that difficulty would be increased exponentially if they are forced to travel to Sheffield.

"Losing the court would be a body blow for the borough. Not only is it important for local residents to access justice, but losing the court could mean that local legal practices leave the town, which would be harmful to the local economy.

"The commission will discuss the implications of the proposed closure to see if there is general support for pressing for an alternative approach whereby county court proceedings can be maintained within the town.

"I would welcome anyone and everyone who has thoughts or comments on the situation to attend the meeting."