As someone who has just completed a law degree, I was very dismayed to read about the recent proposals for the closure of the Wimborne and Blandford Magistrates Courts as part of a national closure programme affecting 103 such courts (Daily Echo, June 23).
Coming on top of planned closures in Wareham, Sherborne and Bridport, this would leave only three magistrates courts in Dorset – Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.
Magistrates courts are supposed to be about local justice, but this is only going to be harmed by centralising them in the larger towns.
I would encourage people to let the Courts Service know your thoughts on the matter by responding to the consultation.
The details are at justice.gov.uk under consultations.
The national closures scheme will only save £37 million across England and Wales.
This will be at the expense of handling cases locally.
With the significant backlogs and delays that will be created at the remaining courts through the extra workload, I don’t think the closures justify the impact that they will have.
Peter Lucas, Landford Gardens, Bournemouth
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