West Cumbria Court is “saved” from closure

Great news today from the Ministry of Justice: West Cumbria Court is “saved” from closure, one of only five of the 91 earmarked for closure in the MOJ Consultation of last year.  On 16 July 2015, the Ministry of Justice published a Consultation document on proposed Court closures, 91 nationally, including West Cumbria Court and Kendal Court. The proposed closure of West Cumbria Court (following on from the relatively recent closure of Whitehaven Court) provoked a great deal of concern and protest.

West Cumberland Law Society convened several meetings to co-ordinate and submit effective responses to the Consultation. The Meetings were attended by the local MPs (Sue Hayman and Jamie Reed), the Police Commissioner, leaders of Allerdale Borough Council and Copeland Borough Council, members of local firms, representatives from Cumbria County Council, the local Housing Associations, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Law Centre and others.

The WCLS response to the Consultation document was delivered in time as were the responses from other key participants. The MP for Workington also delivered a Petition signed by over 3,000 people “to save the Court”.

You will recall that there was a good deal of local Press at the time.  Today’s announcement is summarised in the News & Star:

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/latest/Campaigners-win-fight-to-save-court-from-closure-98b299ad-bf4b-424a-96e2-6ff7047b4e3b-ds