A number of smaller sheriff courts across Scotland including Cupar in Fife could close following a review by Scottish Court Service officials.
Rumours about the Fife court’s future have been circulating as the SCS looks to slash its budget.
A spokeswoman at the SCS insisted it was ”too soon” to speculate about what the future might hold however, she could not rule out closures.
She pointed out that a court could only be closed after ”full public consultation” and would have to be agreed by the Scottish Parliament.
When contacted by The Courier, the SCS official said the review was looking at what court business could be carried out at different locations around Scotland. She also confirmed the way court business is done could be set to change.
”The Scottish Court Service is conducting an overall review of its business and considering how it can continue to deliver a good court service within a smaller budget in the years ahead,” she said.
”Part of that review is looking at what court business should be done in different locations around the country.
”This consideration links to potential changes in the way that court business is done in the future including more use of information technology and draws on the recommendations from the recent civil courts and sheriff and jury procedure reviews.”
The spokeswoman said a number of budget-busting measures were being examined, but insisted it was too soon to be considering closures at specific locations.
”We are discussing options for delivering a good service at lower cost with SCS staff and members of the judiciary at the moment,” she continued.
”At this stage in our planning we are fact-finding to ensure we fully understand and reflect on issues from each local area and take these into account, along with the other business analysis work that we are undertaking.
”When this review work is complete it will be our intention to produce ideas for further discussion and at that stage we will want to involve a wide representation of interested groups and individuals to help us develop and improve our proposals.
”It is therefore far too soon 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.”
Solicitor Douglas Williams has worked at Cupar Sheriff Court for years and operates from premises just a few yards from the court building. He said closure would take a terrible toll on the town.
”I have heard that a number of courts are being looked at under a budgeting review,” Mr Williams told The Courier. ”Cupar is apparently one of them.
”I believe that it could have a devastating economic impact on the town.”
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”This is not just about criminal business a lot of civil work and executory business is carried out at the court, and people really appreciate the local service offered.”
Mr Williams said it was ”far from clear” what the future might hold, but warned that the closure of smaller courts, such as Cupar, would be a massive mistake.
”There has been talk of a so-called ‘super-court’, perhaps in Kirkcaldy or Dundee, which would take in the business from Cupar, but I am not sure that would actually be any cheaper to run,” he continued.
”Those behind this review have to realise that a lot of agents work on a pro bono basis. That is possible for local agents who can work at local courts at a few moment’s notice on an ‘as and when’ basis, but is something that could be lost if there are closures.
”Any loss of local agents covering local court cases would, I believe, be a retrograde step.”
Mr Williams said any eradication of ”local knowledge” would be ”very regretful”.
Meanwhile, the economic impact of closure would be severe, he warned.
”Businesses in Cupar are probably finding it hard enough as it is right now, and yet more money would be lost to the local economy if solicitor firms were forced to leave the town,” he continued.
”A lot of practises here offer a good court service, and it would be sad to see that go.”
Mr Williams urged the SCS to consult local agents before coming up with proposals that could have ”far reaching” implications.
He also offered a solution to officials, adding: ”Before regionalisation, Glenrothes and Methil were all in Cupar’s jurisdiction. If Cupar court is not busy enough, the boundaries could simply be changed back to take in these areas again.”
The court at Cupar, located on St Catherine’s Street, has operated since the 16th century. The earliest written deposits traditionally sent to the National Archives of Scotland from courts throughout the country date back from Cupar in 1515.