Closure of court is “kick in the teeth for Neath”
Evening Post, 14th march 2014
NEATH MP Peter Hain has labelled the closure of the town’s magistrates’ court as a “kick in the teeth” after he made a final attempt to save it.
Mr Hain spoke out at Westminster Hall to ask the Government to reverse their decision to close Neath Magistrates’ Court.
Last month HM Courts and Tribunals (HMCTS) announced that the building on Fairfield will close and all cases will be held in Swansea.
But despite a major campaign and a further plea by Mr Hain, The Ministry of Justice is going to press ahead with their decision to close the court.
Mr Hain said he was given a “dismissive response in a pre-scripted answer which took absolutely no account of the detailed costs and argument we put forward”.
He added: “This is a kick in the teeth for Neath.”
In his speech he said: “Having examined the Secretary of State’s arguments, the proposal document and the consultation response put forward by HM Courts and Tribunal Services, I am convinced the transfer of the Magistrates’ Court Service from Neath to Swansea will severely and detrimentally affect the town, its citizens and erode the provision of local justice for local people.”
Watch Peter’s speech here