Court defence team grows

David O'Leary • Published 6 Jan 2012 09:30 0 Comments

LOCAL councillors and legal professionals have joined forces to fight plans to close Peebles Sheriff Court.

The future of the Rosetta Road court, along with Duns and Selkirk, are in doubt after it emerged the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) is facing a 20 per cent budget cut.

However, it has been claimed that the figures at Peebles just don't add up, as the court building is rented from Scottish Borders Council while the clerk, fiscal and sheriff are already based in Selkirk.

Councillor Graham Garvie said: "The savings made by the closing of Peebles Sheriff Court will be negligible.

"This proposal is a cost-cutting exercise by the SCS but any savings they make will only be passed on to the individual. Peebles Sheriff Court saves the time of witnesses, court officials and police that would otherwise be spent travelling to the city.

"This is a definite no-no in my book and we are determined that this will not happen."

Such is the strength of opposition to the proposal that a truce has been called amongst Tweeddale's six local councillors, Catriona Bhatia, Gavin Logan, Willie Archibald, Neil Calvert, Graham Garvie and Bill Herd.

The six even issued their own joint statement.

It stated: "As local councillors representing different political parties we are united in our call for the continuance of court services in Peebles at the Sheriff Court.

"Court services have been established in the town of Peebles since time immemorial and we have a responsibility to maintain the delivery of justice in a local arena.

"We would appeal to the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise very carefully any proposals that would risk the future of Peebles Sheriff Court and be mindful of the value of this service in delivering the present low rates of offending in this part of Scotland."

Peebles defence lawyer Sally Swinney also strongly opposes any move to close Peebles Sheriff Court.

"I was shocked when I heard of this proposal, as Peebles is already manned from Selkirk Sheriff Court at a minimal cost. The financial argument just does not stand up.

"Edinburgh Sheriff Court already has a backlog and I cannot see how this can be helped by increasing its workload from the Borders. In family law involving children any delay can be quite destructive.

"If it's a case of Peebles not being busy enough then maybe a better proposal would be to move Penicuik cases to Peebles which would help alleviate some of the Edinburgh backlog."

Her view is echoed by Peebles Community Council chair David Pye, who said: "Edinburgh can't cope already and Peebles isn't busy enough, it seems the most obvious answer.

"Justice has to be seen to be done locally, it is a powerful deterrent to wrongdoing and crime."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 06 Jan 12

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