Forfar has emerged as the latest Tayside and Fife sheriff court rumoured to be facing the axe under a service shake-up.
The Courier this week revealed the possibility that a number of smaller courts across Scotland may be considered for closure in light of a Scottish Courts Service review which is seeking to cut costs (link).
SCS officials have acknowledged that a review is under way but stressed no decisions on possible court closures would be taken until after full public consultation, and only with the approval of the Scottish Government.
However, fears which surfaced in Fife over the possible threat facing Cupar Sheriff Court have been matched in Angus, where concern is mounting that one of the two local courts may be closed in an amalgamation.
The strong speculation is that the most likely target of any Angus reorganisation would be Forfar Sheriff Court, with business transferring to Arbroath.
While any moves to close an Angus court are likely to be restricted, local feeling seems to be that retention of at least one court in Angus would be preferable to a so-called ”super court” set-up in Dundee.
Like colleagues across Scotland, Forfar Sheriff Court staff are understood to have already been contacted over the ongoing SCS review and given the opportunity to feed into it.
The Dean of the Faculty in Angus confirmed, however, that the review had not yet been extended to seek the views of local lawyers, but he fully anticipated that would happen if any changes are being planned.
”The SCS have not involved the faculty at this stage,” said Brechin solicitor Steve Middleton. ”We would be interested in being part of any consultation process regarding the future of either of the Angus courts.”
The courts review sparked debate during breaks in Thursday’s proceedings at Forfar and the merit of arguments for or against retention or closure of either Angus court.
”Whatever happens, I don’t think having a super-court in Dundee, as has been rumoured, would work,” said a source. ”The Angus jurisdiction covers a large area and if you were to leave a gap between the courts in Stonehaven and Dundee I do not think that would work.
”One Angus court may be capable of dealing with all the area’s business, but that would then leave the question of what would happen to the other building if it was closed. In the case of Forfar, it is a large, old listed building and I just don’t know how easily it could be disposed of and what it would be used for.”
The SCS has confirmed a review of its business with a view to delivering ”a good court service within a smaller budget in the years ahead.”
An official said the review includes elements such as the way court business is carried out in different parts of the country, the potential role of increased information technology and the lessons which might be learned from recommendations arising out of recent civil courts and sheriff and jury procedure reviews.
The SCS said options are being discussed with its own staff and members of the judiciary. The intention is to broaden the consultation to involve a wide range of groups and individuals.
”It is therefore far too early to speculate on the future of any particular court, but any proposal to close a court will require a full public consultation to be undertaken and ultimately a decision by the Scottish Parliament,” said a spokesman.