Pontypridd Magistrates Court closure confirmed.
It has been confirmed that Pontypridd magistrates is to close as part of a substantial closure programme under the current Conservative government.
The proposals were first announced in July 2015 and a consultation announced. The responses – including that from RCT Welsh Liberal Democrats – were almost all against the action, but they have been ignored.
Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate for Pontypridd Councillor Mike Powell said he was disappointed but not surprised by the decision.
"This whole process has been a farce. Valid points put forward by those who responded to the consultation have just been brushed aside with a few terse words. There was never any intention of going back on their plans.
"In our response we pointed out, amongst other things, that Pontypridd is the only remaining court in the county and that it would be unconscionable that it should be removed and that Rhondda Cynon Taff, the third largest Local Authority in Wales by population, be left without such a facility.
"The response was simply that we would not be the only countywithout a magistrate's court. Unbelievable.
"They took no notice of the many arguments that people would have further to travel for things such as family courts. The Aberdare and Llwynypia magistrates' courts were closed in 2010 in order to cut costs and the argument at the time was that Pontypridd was not far away and that people from the Rhondda could travel there quite easily. No notice was taken of the cumulative effects of the removal of Pontypridd court."
The report states:
Access to justice is not justabout proximity to a court. The changes we are making to our service will mean fewer people needing to physically go to a court. Using modern technology, as we do for many other services, will make access to justice easier.
The full consultation feedback report can be found here
