The Government closed Fleetwood Magistrates’ Court following a consultation in 2018, as part of their 38% cuts to the criminal justice system and court services since 2010.

For years I have been pushing the Government to reopen the court. Not only this, but I have also fought against yet more Government cuts to Magistrates’ Courts like that in Lancaster.

The Government said that the closure of Fleetwood court and investment in digital services would “make access to justice quicker, easier and fairer for all.”

Yet under the Conservatives, we have seen the criminal justice system grind to a near complete halt, with victims of crime waiting years to see a courtroom and get justice, including for some of the most serious offences including rape and sexual assault.

During the pandemic, I was pleased that the Government did a part u-turn on the closure and re-open two “Nightingale” courts in Fleetwood, which I urged them to make permanent.

Now, following the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) scandal last November and the closure of Blackpool court, the Government have committed to re-opening two further courts in Fleetwood.

In a statement, Mike Freer MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services said:

“To increase our capacity for civil and family work in the region, we are bringing online two further courtrooms at Fleetwood, to sit alongside the existing two courtrooms which opened during the pandemic as a temporary Nightingale court. This increased capacity will mean that court users from Blackpool and local area will have shorter distances to travel for hearings.”

Closing Fleetwood’s court was a ridiculous decision, and I’m delighted that the Government have effectively u-turned on the court closure, now with 4 courts in Fleetwood, ensuring that families get fairer access to the justice system.