SCOTTISH lawyers' governing body has demanded emergency talks over planned court closures as a lawyer protesting at Holyrood spoke of the stress the proposals would cause to the most vulnerable.
At Holyrood's justice committee yesterday, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill was robust in his defence of plans to shut 10 sheriff courts and several district courts, which were also backed by the country's most senior judge, Lord Gill.
However, solicitor Sally Swinney, of Peebles, in the Borders, said: "I feel very strongly local justice should be dealt with locally.
"I deal with family law which is already known to be stressful for those involved, which means it's all the more important to deal with it locally."
Bruce Beveridge, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: "It's clear many solicitors and others remain opposed to plans to close 10 sheriff courts and seven justice of the peace courts and believe they will have a significant and adverse impact on access to justice in Scotland.
"A local court offers the opportunity to see justice done and to bridge the gap between crime in local communities and its detection and resolution.
"In addition, they make a significant contribution to the economic activity in their local communities. We're not convinced this has been factored in."
He said the role the public sector plays in local communities must be recognised, "particularly in rural Scotland where most of these closures are planned".
He added: "There needs to be further discussion with other public sector bodies and services to establish the contribution they make and if this has been taken into account in the cost analysis.
Mr Beveridge said the society recognises the financial pressures facing the Scottish Court Service (SCS) and understands improvements must be sought.
He added: "We are also largely in favour of the proposals on wider court reform.
"However, we remain concerned this closure programme will fail to achieve significant financial savings in the long-term and could end up being counter-productive."
Mr Beveridge cited the plans to remove the vast majority of civil cases from the Court of Session under the Court Reforms (Scotland) Bill. He said this meant it was likely some of the remaining courts, that are already at full capacity, will struggle with the increased level of business, and warned this could slow down proceedings and increase costs.
Mr MacAskill defended the proposals. In one instance he pointed out his home town of Linlithgow lost its sheriff court to Livingston, while some of the Borders historical courts dated back to Victorian times.
Conservative MSP John Lamont asked him: "Is it correct the Scottish Government has cut the SCS capital budget by 80% in the last four years?"
Mr MacAskill said: "Yes, I accept I have to make these cuts but it's the Government policy that you support that has forced this upon us. This is because of the mis-management of the economy of a previous UK Government and the slash and burn actions of the present one."
The Lord President of the Court of Session, the Rt Hon Lord Gill, said: "This is the most extensive consultation I have ever been involved in. We have gone about this in a very thorough, committed way and on balance it is our considered position this is the best way forward."
Eric McQueen, chief executive of the SCS, told MSPs he could give an absolute commitment that all towns losing their court would receive new video-conferencing technology in advance of any closures.
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