Courts Service: Estate

Question

Asked by

Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 14 December 2009 (WA 173), whether, in relation to each of the courts identified as alternatives, public transport is available throughout the catchment area of the original court which reaches the alternative court in time for the start of court hearings and leaves after hearings have ended. [HL1633]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach)
Public transport arrangements from the current courts to the alternative sites were considered when identifying courts as possible candidates for closure. It is possible to travel by public transport between Louth, Gainsborough and Cullompton and their alternative courts in time for the start of court hearings and after hearings have ended. There is no regular public transport between Launceston and Bodmin that fits with court start and finish times. However, this has been the position in the East Cornwall local justice area for many years and, since the transferral of most cases to Bodmin in 2000, allowances for travel time have been made when listing cases involving someone from the Launceston area who is dependent on public transport.

Any wider issues regarding limited public transport services across the local justice area will apply equally, whether or not a decision is made to close the courts.