The Bedford Borough Conservative Group has joined a campaign to bring court cases back to Bedford Magistrates’ Court.
In June all cases other than those concerning family matters were moved from Bedford Magistrates’ Court to Luton Magistrates’ Court in an attempt to save money.
However, there are widely held concerns that the change has made it more difficult for individuals and groups to attend hearings which has undermined access to justice.
The Leader of the Conservative Group Cllr Stephen Moon wrote a letter on the behalf of the Group to the Judicial Business Group as part of a campaign launched by the Bedfordshire on Sunday. He wrote:
‘These arrangements have put an unfair burden on defendants, witnesses and others involved in what are often cases of very low value. For example, those affected include defendants who are facing issues such as failure to pay a television licence or other offences arising out of the inability to pay their way; many if not most of whom will not have independent transport.
‘It may well be that there is some saving to the public purse by concentrating resources at Luton but there is additional cost to other public agencies, such as the Borough Council in travelling to Luton and to the voluntary bodies who may support or represent defendants. It is the view of myself and my Group that the minor savings to Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service are more than outweighed by the impact of the change on those least able to afford it.’