Call to guarantee access to justice
(Souce: http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/8494417.Call_to_guarantee_access_to_justice/)
A CAMPAIGN group has called on the Government to guarantee injured people in Bury are not left with restricted access to justice if the County Court closes due to cuts.
The move has been made by the not-for-profit Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
They want the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide a guarantee that all county court hearings will take place within 20 working days of a preliminary application being issued if proposals to close courts across England and Wales go ahead.
The MoJ is consulting on plans to close 54 county courts, including Bury County Court in Tenters Street, and 103 magistrates’ courts, to save £36 million a year. County courts are often used in personal injury trials.
APIL asked the Government to give the guarantee in its response to a consultation by the MoJ.
APIL president Muiris Lyons said: “We all know public finances are under severe pressure, but the Government must ensure that people living in Bury continue to have proper access to justice.
“A guarantee should be given to the public that no one should have to wait more than 20 working days for their case to be heard at a county court after a preliminary application has been issued.
“This would give people — many of whom may feel anxious about the prospect of going to court — an assurance that their case is being dealt with efficiently.”
Bury County Court is considered to be “underused” and “inadequate”.
