Ways of saving the town’s county court and protecting up to a dozen jobs will be discussed at a campaign meeting next week.
The credibility of Shrewsbury will be called into question and local trade could suffer if plans to scrap the town’s county court get the go ahead, according to Jeremy Taylor, litigation partner at Wace Morgan solicitors.
He claimed the plans put forward by the coalition government to save £37 million by axing 54 county courts nationwide – including the full-time county court at Cambrian House – will cost more money than it saves.
He said people would face an extra financial burden in having to pay for travel to attend Telford County Court 18 miles away and that legal businesses in the town would also be hit hard.
One government suggestion is to use telephone links to solve disputes but Mr Taylor argues that access to children and care cases as well as possession hearings and bankruptcy disputes are all inappropriate to do over a telephone.
A consultation document is currently open until September 15 and now court users are being urged to attend a special meeting at the court on Wednesday, July 21 at 4pm.
The court’s running costs were £152,911 last year and 12 members of staff could lose their jobs if the closure is finalised.
Mr Taylor said: “Shrewsbury is the only full time court they are planning to close and we really don’t see how it’s actually going to happen because it would mean only Telford would be open.
“This would mean people in the town losing access to justice and would have an extra financial burden on them to access somewhere like Telford.
“The potential cost savings are really not so massive but it will have a knock-on effect and from a business point of view it’s not good because more trade will be taken from the town. Other equivalent courts such as Hereford don’t seem to be under threat and this could question the credibility of Shrewsbury if it goes ahead.
“I would urge people to come along and show their support as people will have the chance to have their voice heard and we will look at the options and discuss the proposals.”
By David Seadon
