MP John Hayes is taking the battle to save Spalding Magistrates’ Court from “death by a thousand cuts” to the top levels of Government.
Court cells have been shut since July following a health and safety review and it’s likely the court house could close unless thousands of pounds are spent to upgrade the cells and a winding staircase leading from the cells.
Magistrates expect to hear next month if cash will be made available.
Remand prisoners are no longer dealt with at the court and, in a fresh blow, its workload is to be cut further still.
Weekly Tuesday motoring courts will be held fortnightly from January to April and then disappear altogether.
Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service refuses to reveal details of the health and safety assessment, confirm whether it has carried out its own independent report or comment on the reported £350,000 to £400,000 cost of the work.
In 2010, the South Holland and The Deepings MP, magistrates and solicitors saved Spalding court from closure by arguing the cause of local justice.
That campaign was backed by the nation’s top judge, Lord Justice Goldring, who said plans to shut the building were “unacceptable”.
Earlier this summer Mr Hayes was assured by then minister Jonathan Djanogly that there were no plans to close the Spalding court.
Mr Hayes said it seems the courts’ service is going “behind” the judge and behind the minister.
“I am not going to allow this death by a thousand cuts,” he said. “It is not the will of the minister, nor the will of the judges.”
South Lincolnshire Magistrates’ chairman Kevin Moody says Spalding Magistrates’ Court can only be saved if the minister comes up with funds.
He said: “A court without custody facilities isn’t really a viable court.”
Solicitor Mike Alexander understands the courts’ service has not commissioned an independent report on the cells and the one that exists was carried out for security firm GeoAmey, which would save money if it did not bring prisoners to Spalding.
He said it was written after a disabled person slipped on the spiral staircase up to the dock.
Mr Alexander said: “I am really, really cynical about that report.
“The bean counters only consider the cost rather than having an efficient and effective service for the public, which is what it is meant to be.”
Mr Alexander said the court has been “safe” for more than 100 years.
The courts’ service, HMCTS, refused to answer Free Press questions on the number of accidents involving the cells and would not comment on whether it had commissioned an independent report.
The spokesman said a decision was taken to list a court at Grantham on Tuesdays to deal with South Lincolnshire’s work, including custody cases, and it links with a new police court.
HMCTS says it has “no current plans” to close the court.