Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court is set to close, leaving no magistrates’ courts in Caerphilly County Borough after what the Caerphilly MP labelled a “farce” of a consultation.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed the closure today, July 9, a year after plans to shut Caerphilly and Abergavenny courts were first announced.
In response to a consultation launched last June, the MoJ confirmed the closure of the court on Mountain Road, Caerphilly, claiming it would save them £1.2m in essential repairs.
They said the closure of both courts would save them £80,000 a year.
But Caerphilly MP Wayne David labelled the consultation a “farce”.
Mr David said: “This is disappointing but not surprising news.
“Of the 31 people who responded to the consultation only five were in favour of closure.
“Unfortunately the views of the people who know the court were ignored.
“The consultation was a farce from start to finish.”
In his response Mr Cuthbert said: “Forcing my constituents to travel to Newport or Cwmbran could have significant implications on travel times and costs – particularly for those who rely on public transport.
“I also have concerns about vulnerable constituents of mine who are charged with an offence being detained in a court further away than Caerphilly, and the potential impact that this could have on their wellbeing and their families.”
No date has been set for the closure but means there will be no magistrates’ courts in the county borough, despite Bargoed, Pontlottyn and Blackwood previously all having courts.
In the Gwent area, trials are listed for the first available suitable court date in any of the courthouses with many Caerphilly cases already being heard at Newport and Cwmbran.
An HM Courts & Tribunals Service spokesperson said: “Following a local consultation, the Lord Chancellor has decided to close Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court and Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court.
“Both courts are underused and would require significant expenditure on refurbishment.
“The fall in criminal business across Gwent means that maintaining magistrates’ court sittings in four separate locations across the area does not represent the best use of the estate or taxpayer’s money.”
For the first time in more than 700 years there will not be a court of any kind in Caerffili. This is a stupid, but as Wayne David says, not a surprise. This has happened because the powers that be insist that our town is part of Gwent, it is not and has never been part of Gwent or the predecessor county Monmouthshire. We are and always have been a Glamorganshire town.
Some people say it does not matter what county Caerffili is in, but it does. It matters not just in terms of the Criminal Justice system but also in health provision and policing.
In the not too distant past Caerffili had a hospital with 24 hour A & E, a Crown Post Office, a Police station manned 24 hours a day and a law court. This seemed perfectly reasonable in the 1970’s but in the the bizarre world of the early 21st century it seems we can do without all these. How long will it be before the fire station is under threat?
Succinctly put Cllr. Williams. I have been arguing this for years. No one asked me if I wanted to be in Gwent.. Caerffili has been stripped of any prestige or relevance since.I have more affinity with Pontypridd than Blackwood