Dave Thompson MSP

In response to the Press Release from Cllr Angela MacLean on the proposals for the Scottish Court Service,  Dave Thompson MSP. responded as follows:

Dave Thompson said: “Labour who caused, and now the Tory Lib Dems Coalition who have exacerbated the worst recession we have seen in a lifetime really do take the biscuit.

“Angela Maclean’s party is in coalition with the Tories who have made savage cuts to the Scottish Government’s income just as they are now savagely cutting the benefits of vulnerable people.

“Yet they expect the Scottish Government to magic money so that all the services they are expected to supply continue uninterrupted. Are they blind to their hypocrisy?

“I recognise the necessity of Scotland producing a balanced budget, as the SNP Government have done since coming to power in 2007.

“This means, given the Coalition’s budget cuts, that efficiencies need to be found, and sadly the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) have recommended these Sherriff Court closures.

“However, I have pointed out that efficiencies can be maintained with some innovative thinking. A new state of the art Justice Centre located in or very near Dingwall, taking advantage of lower land prices, would release assets for sale and reuse like the iconic Inverness Castle which could become a great tourist focus. Additionally, of course such a centre would be a huge boost to the town of Dingwall and the local area.

“If this Justice Centre were combined with the new prison that the Scottish Prison Service seeks to build in the Highlands to replace Porterfield Prison in Inverness then even greater savings could be found, and even greater employment and economic benefits accrue to Dingwall.

“I have had support for this idea from Highland Council, the Police, the retiring Chief Inspector of Prisons, the Scottish Courts Service and the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. But not a cheep from this array of opposition politicians, like Rhoda Grant and Angela Maclean. All they want is cheap publicity and are not interested in real constructive engagement for the benefit of their constituents."

Note:

Press release from Highland Liberal Democrats
Date: 11th June 2013

SNP Close Dingwall Sheriff Court

Today, (Tuesday 11th June) the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee voted to support the SNP Governments proposals to close seven justice of the peace courts and a fifth of Scotland’s sheriff courts, including Dingwall Sheriff Court. The failure of the SNP to stand up for the local court has been criticised by local Liberal Democrat Cllr Angela Maclean of Dingwall and Seaforth. All five nationalist members of the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee voted to close the courts with Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative MSPs voting against.

Cllr Angela Maclean commented;

"Local people have been let down by the SNP Government.

The closure of Dingwall Sheriff Court means that in a number of cases witnesses, the police and victims will have to travel further to see justice done. Not only do these plans cut local jobs and greatly limit access to justice they also threaten to increase costs. Indeed, with additional business in courts, such as Inverness, the pressure will inevitably lead to expensive delays and disruption to cases.

These proposals were opposed by hundreds of local people across Scotland who signed the Liberal Democrat and other petitions against the plans. However, the SNP Government have decided to ignore local people in favour of centralising our Justice system. This is not what the Highlands needs.

I am extremely disappointed that Dave Thompson MSP, local SNP member for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, did not stand up for his constituents and challenge his Government. The SNP had a choice between their constituents and their government. Dave Thompson MSP, alongside his nationalist colleagues, has failed his constituents and ignored the interests of local justice and local communities.

The SNP are today responsible for ending Scotland’s proud tradition of delivering justice at the heart of local communities ”