This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Future of Peebles Sheriff Court
27/06/2002
A consultation paper outlining three options for the care of future business at Peebles Sheriff Court was announced during a Members Business Debate in the Scottish Parliament today.
The consultation was ordered by the Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace following concern over the future of the court building at Peebles which needs extensive renovation.
The options are:
- transferring the full business of the court from Peebles to Edinburgh Sheriff Court
- transferring the full business permanently to Selkirk Sheriff Court
- providing for summary criminal business to be heard at Peebles, if suitable alternative accommodation can be leased for that purpose, with the remainder of the business transferring to Selkirk
Speaking in the debate today the Deputy Justice Minister Richard Simpson, stressed that innovative solutions are needed to a provide cost effective service for all court users in the Borders.
Announcing the findings of the Scottish Court Service's investigation into the problems at Peebles Simpson confirmed that considerable work would be needed to bring the court back into operation.
"Conclusions on the cost of work involved to remove and eradicate the dry rot and prevent its recurrence would amount to some £400,000. This would not create any improvement in court facilities.
" The costs involved in renovation and upgrading of the building, including better facilities for witnesses and other court users would amount to some £1 million.
" We must take a realistic and hard headed approach - the courthouse at Peebles sits one day per week for less than 2 hours on average. In 2000/01 it sat for little over 100 hours in the full year and heard only 10 summary trials and 2 jury trials being heard. In 2001/02, Peebles business took up some 85 hours of court time with 7 summary trials and no jury trials being heard.
" Given the circumstances and the low level of business transacted at the court, it is only right that the question of how court services are delivered to the people of Peebles and Tweeddale should be re-examined."
" Can I also take this opportunity to make it clear that there are no plans to centralise court provision in the borders on a single site. The recent speculation in the press is without foundation and almost tantamount to scaremongering."
The Scottish Court Service will issue its consultation paper as soon as possible, setting out the background to the problem, detailing the requirements and seeking the views of court users and the public more generally on the options available.