|
|
 |
| |
| Historic court is set to close |
Closure to make way for ‘supreme
court’
THERE will be no crown courts left in Westminster in two years
as the Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court is to close, it has emerged.
The West End Extra has learned that the Lord Chancellor’s department
is set to close the historic courts in Parliament Square in April
2007 to make way for a new supreme court in Britain.
But after the closure and controversial sale of Bow Street Magistrates
Court last month the closure of this court will leave Westminster
without a single crown court.
All court work will be moved out to Blackfriars Crown Court.
The Supreme Court is set to replace the Law Lords which have repeatedly
challenged the Labour government’s anti -terrorist legislation.
But the closure of the court has faced heavy criticism from solicitors.
A statement by the London Criminal Courts Association (LCCSA) was
issued last night saying it would be a costly move.
They said: “The LCCSA regrets the closure of the historic and
august Middlesex Guildhall as it is the only crown court that serves
Westminster.
“The borough will lose an important centre point of the criminal
justice system and its closure will cause expense and inconvenience
to the local community and court users such as witnesses, staff,
police officers and solicitors.”
Last month the West End Extra reported that Bow Street Magistrates
Court had been sold by the Metropolitan Police Authority and Court
Services to Irish developers Edward Holdings for a rumoured £20
million.
The sale dashed hopes for the creation of a police museum to be
created in the world’s most historic court. Covent Garden residents
campaigned for it not to be sold to the private sector as it was
one of the few buildings in the area that remained accessible. The
sale was heavily criticised by Covent Garden residents who accused
the MPA of “selling off the family silver”. |
|
|
