‘Questionable savings’ as councillors voice anger at Dornoch court closure plans

Sutherland’s six Highland Councillors have submitted a response to the Scottish government consultation on the proposed closure of Dornoch Sheriff Court.

Deirdre Mackay, George Farlow, Jim McGillivray, Hugh Morrison, Linda Munro and Graham Phillips believe "there is no justice in plans to close Dornoch Sheriff Court, a decision that will a have a significant knock-on effect on the economy of the town".

Area leader Mrs Mackay added: "In our submission we made the case for maintaining the court, as its closure will have negative effects, both economically and socially."

Councillor Mackay, who represents Easter Sutherland and Edderton, continued: "While we appreciate that the Scottish government has to economise, the present proposals are just another exercise in centralisation. All the Highland courts are busy and once again, as so often in the past, a small community will lose facilities and, as a result, suffer economic damage.

"It really is infuriating. Hard work is taking place across a range of agencies to develop Dornoch for the future and maintain its importance as a key driver in the Sutherland economy. Now the Court Service is reaching into the very heart of the town and snuffing out one of its key institutions.

"Courts mean people, not just sheriffs, the Fiscal’s Department and lawyers concerned, but also witnesses, jurors, legal experts, and, of course, in civil cases the parties and their families and in criminal cases the accused, all of whom come into the town, and to a greater or lesser extent all spend money and therefore provide a boost to the local economy.

"Hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast establishments, cafés, restaurants, local shops, will all see a reduced trade as a result of the closure, and the town will be left with a large, empty, unsaleable building right in the heart of the town.

"These may not seem significant to the institution concerned but in small communities they can have a disproportionate effect upon the whole community and its prosperity, extending to tens of thousands of pounds every year."

And she concluded: "The savings from this exercise appear questionable to say the least and appear driven simply by a cut in the courts’ budget. If there has to be such a rationalisation then it should be carried out in a logical manner, with due regard to provision and in such a way as to cause the least possible economic and social damage."