Harrow magistrates court to be axed

Harrow's Magistrates Court is to be axed in the new year, according to the borough's local papers.

The court, in Rosslyn Crescent, is one of 10 courts in London and 142 in England and Wales to be chopped off. The move aims to cut public spending.

It is also a mockery to the government's pledge of so-called localism.

Local politicians and residents were furious about the government's plan. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East said he was angry with the whole process and was not happy, to put it mildly.

The court's Bench chairman Nigel Orton said the decision will be very disappointing news for all in Harrow.

He told the Harrow Observer: "The bench believed justice is best served by keeping open courts, so people can see their local court in operation and have confidence in the criminal justice system."

On top of that, local councillors argued the closure will not save money after they had looked into the proposal.

But the senior presiding judge for England Goldring Djanogly backed the plan by saying: "Access to justice is not just about access to buildings. It is about the type of justice delivered, decent facilities for victims and witnesses and efficient use of the system.

"We are closing the worst courts in the estate – so we can concentrate our limited resources on the best ones."