AN MP has warned that some constituents will face a 240-mile round trip to give evidence if controversial plans for court closures go ahead.
Alan Reid MP said proposals to shut one in five sheriff courts in Scotland were ridiculous and called on the SNP Government to reject the plans.
The comments follow changes proposed by the Scottish Court Service (SCS) earlier this week which have been called the biggest shake-up of the nation's legal system for more than a century.
"Stopping holding jury trials in Oban, Dunoon and Campbeltown will cause considerable inconvenience to victims, witnesses, police, jurors, the accused and anyone who wants to watch the proceedings. They will all have to travel to Dumbarton or Paisley," Mr Reid said.
"Jury trials currently held in Oban or Campbeltown will be held in Dumbarton, and those currently held in Dunoon will be moved to Paisley. Many of my constituents already have to travel long distances to attend a trial, and will be forced to travel far further under these ridiculous proposals."
The Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute added: "Justice should be administered locally and so I urge the SNP Government not to implement these proposals."
Plans put forward by the SCS would see 10 of the 49 sheriff courts in Scotland that deal with criminal and civil cases face closure, mostly over the next two to three years. The number of courts dealing with sheriff, jury and high court cases also faces cuts. The plans now only need approval by the Scottish Government.
Scottish Labour's Jenny Marra MSP called the plans "simply unacceptable" and Scottish Conservative Chief Whip John Lamont MSP said access to justice could be harmed.
Eric McQueen, chief executive of the SCS, said the moves "may sound stark, but they are proportionate".
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