The key will turn on Arbroath Sheriff Court in 140 days, the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) has revealed.
A date of May 30 has been set for the closure of the court in Arbroath, with all business transferring to Forfar’s Sheriff Court in Market Street.
Last month, Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont criticised the move, claiming it would put additional pressure on a Tayside justice system that is already “beyond full stretch”, but the SCS has stuck to its timetable.
The body responsible for the administration of Scotland’s courts recently acquired an annexe attached to Forfar Sheriff Court from Angus Council, which it plans to turn into an additional courtroom and part of its new justice hub.
An SCS spokesperson explained: “When Arbroath Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court closes in May 30 2014, business will transfer to Forfar Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court.
“The purchase of the annexe building by the Scottish Court Service (SCS) from Angus Council aligns with the firm commitment, made in the recent consultation response paper on Shaping Scotland’s Courts Service, that as a direct result of court closures, we will target investment to improve court facilities in the remaining estate.
“The additional space allows us to reconfigure the court building to create an additional courtroom, substantially improve facilities for vulnerable witnesses, create new accommodation for Victim Support Scotland, improve disabled access and provide secure custody facilities.”
Some 10 sheriff courts and seven justice of the peace courts will be shut under the national plans.
Critics warned the move would be detrimental to local justice and mean witnesses and victims would be forced to travel longer distances for cases.
However, the Scottish Court Service insists the reforms to centralise courts will improve the justice system.
SCS chief executive Eric McQueen said the closures would allow more money to be invested in the fewer courts that remain.
He said: “We are now in a strong position to make the targeted investment required to create a modern structure of courts throughout Scotland.
“Investing in fewer courts will enable us to improve facilities and technology, which will provide better services for all court users, and in particular victims and witnesses.
“Forfar Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court is an excellent example of the level of facilities and services that we expect to achieve in the future through targeted investment.”