Almost 2,000 residents have signed a Labour Group petition to save Stockport Magistrates and County Court from closure.
The petition has to date attracted 1,927 signatures against proposals put forward by the Ministry of Justice on Courts and Tribunals across the North-West which would severely restrict access to justice in the borough.
Leader of the Labour Group Councillor Alex Ganotis said, “The response from members of the public to our campaign to save Stockport Court has been incredible, and the Ministry of Justice should be listening to the fact that residents have said loud and clear that they want access to local justice to be maintained.
“Alongside this petition, Stockport Labour Group has also submitted a comprehensive response to the consultation which outlines why it is vital we ensure that victims, witnesses, and the wider public have local services protected, and that excessively difficult journeys to hearings aren’t required.
“The first duty of Government is to guarantee public safety, but these proposals do exactly the opposite at a time of rising violent crime across Greater Manchester.”
The consultation, which closed on 8th October, could see 11 Magistrates and 13 County and Family Courts shut across the North West. The plans would see cases currently handled at the Courthouse in Stockport transferred to Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court and Manchester County Court based at the Civil Justice Centre.
Stockport’s high quality, multi-purpose Courthouse was opened in 1989 and underwent major refurbishment work as recently as 2010. It boasts 11 modern Courtrooms and 18 cells as well as rooms for advocates, probation staff and witness support officers.