Councillors express fury at decision to close court

Political leaders in Mendip have expressed their anger after learning that the last remaining court in the district will be lost.

Mendip District Council received formal notification of the move this week.

Politicians from all parties at Mendip were united in opposing the closure of Frome Magistrates’ Court and have joined together to express their concern and anger at the final decision and the impact that it will have on the area.

As part of the consultation on the closure, Mendip District Council’s chief executive, Stuart Brown, wrote on behalf of the council to oppose the closure back in October and urged the decision to be reversed.

In his letter, he put forward a number of serious concerns the council had about the loss of the district’s last remaining court.

The council stressed residents of Frome felt marginalised already by being distant from the county town and from larger towns where many public services are based.

He also added in his letter, that the area is not well served by public transport, particularly in the rural villages where approximately 40 per cent of Mendip’s population live and that he could see no link between the Government’s “localism” agenda and the proposed closure of Frome court.

Councillor Claire Hudson, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group on Mendip District Council and a ward councillor for Frome Park, said: “I’m absolutely staggered that the department of justice is pushing ahead with closing the Frome Magistrates’ Court.

“A very senior judge gave his opinion that Frome Magistrates’ Court should be retained because of the time and distance involved in getting to Yeovil, as well as public transport difficulties.

“The very least that could be done would be for the department of justice to enable those attending court from the Frome end of Mendip to have their cases heard in Bath, which is more accessible both in distance and by public transport.”

After being informed of the Lord Chancellor’s decision to close the court, leader of Mendip District Council, Councillor Harvey Siggs, said: “The closure of the last remaining court in Mendip is a bitter pill to swallow.

“We added our voices in protesting against this closure to those of the magistrates and the concerned public but it appears we have been ignored.”