Any New Court should be in Gloucester City Centre, say Lib Dems

There are calls for a new civil justice centre to be built in Gloucester city centre rather than in Quedgeley.

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeremy Hilton said that if a new crown, county and magistrates court complex was to be built in the city then it should be in a central location, rather than at the Waterwells business park.

There is now only one magistrates court operating in Gloucestershire, which is in Cheltenham, after Gloucester and Stroud's shut in 2015 as part of a nationwide closure programme.

Councillor Hilton spoke out after it emerged that Conservative MPs Richard Graham and Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown have met recently with Chief Constable Rod Hansen and Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl to discuss lobbying the Government for a new crown and magistrates court next to Gloucestershire Police HQ.

"There is no doubt that Gloucester needs a new court complex. Gloucester's magistrates court was rather dilapidated for several years before it finally closed," Councillor Hilton, who represents Kingsholm Ward, said.

"Gloucester's crown court is a lovely 19th century building and a proper old courtroom but it is also in poor condition and needs updating.

"If is justice is to be served then it needs to be accessible to everyone from across Gloucestershire.

"With the new court located in the city centre it would be close to the bus and rail stations and also have good parking facilities."

Councillor Hilton added: "A potential site for the new court building could be as part of the Kings Quarter development.

"A new court in Gloucester could also mean that high-profile and more serious cases are dealt with in the city rather than people having to travel to Bristol."