Hepburn fights to save J and P court

CALLS are being made to retain the Cumbernauld Justice of the Peace Court.

SNP MSP for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Jamie Hepburn has sent a submission to a consultation by the Scottish Court Service calling to keep Cumbernauld Justice of the Peace Court.

Mr Hepburn, in his submission, points out the difficulties that people in the towns face in travelling to and from Airdrie, where it is proposed to discharge business currently undertaken at Cumbernauld.

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He has also suggested that the Cumbernauld site – which he understands is owned by the Scottish Court Service, unlike some other buildings they utilise across the country – be used to hear cases relevant to the local area in front of a sheriff that would otherwise have to be heard in Airdrie.

Mr Hepburn said: “I believe that the Justice of the Peace Court in Cumbernauld should be retained, as it is convenient for discharging business relevant to the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area.

“As everyone knows, public transport links to and from Airdrie are not good, and it has been suggested to me that this often has an adverse impact on business at Airdrie Sheriff Court, where people are delayed coming from Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.

“It therefore seems to make far more sense to me to retain the court in Cumbernauld. Indeed, there could be a case for business that is heard by a sheriff that relates to Cumbernauld and Kilsyth being heard from that location, and I have made that suggestion in my submission to the Scottish Court Service.

“I very much hope that they give proper consideration to my suggestions and that the Justice of the Peace Court continues to sit locally.”