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D-Day for court

Penny Coles
20/12/2006

JUSTICE has been served for the last time from Glossop Town Hall.

The sad occasion was marked by chairman of the bench, Sheila Senior, when the court opened its doors on Tuesday.

Mrs Senior said: "Today is the last occasion when a court will be held in this building - at least for the foreseeable future.

"Glossop Town Hall has served the court well over the many years and we would like to extend our thanks to all those who have helped in the smooth operation of its business here.

"It is obviously a matter of regret when a local courthouse closes but it makes it more important than ever that the community is represented on the local bench.

"I would like to take this opportunity to encourage members of the Glossop community to make an application to become magistrates so that local justice will continue through your representatives with their local knowledge, wherever High Peak Bench conducts its business."

The move to magistrates' courts in Buxton follows a review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate which placed Glossop at the bottom of the league of the six Derbyshire court houses.

Linda Mayhew, director of Her Majesty's Courts Service, said 88 per cent of the users of the building - which is rented from High Peak Council - cited Buxton as the favoured option.

There is some disquiet from users of the building, based in Glossop, who believe the town hall could have been updated or an alternative building found in the town.

Buxton Magistrates' Court on Terrace Road will now deal with the court cases from Glossop.