CRAVEN councillors have voted unanimously to fight a perceived 'running down' of Skipton Law Courts.

A motion brought by Independent councillor Andy Solloway and signed by the leaders of all four political groups on Craven District Council called for 'local justice to be dealt with locally' and stated that the town's law courts 'must remain a fully functioning part of the justice system'.

The full council meeting heard that Skipton Magistrates Court now sits only fortnightly and deals to conclusion with just guilty pleas. Anyone who pleads not guilty to an offence that can be dealt with by magistrates is sent for trial to Harrogate or courts at York or even Scarborough. Offenders who are facing custody are also sent to Harrogate for sentencing.

It is understood that the county court, which shares the building in Court Street, is also seeing cases being sent elsewhere.

Cllr Solloway told Tuesday's meeting he was pleased to see that support for his motion had come from all councillors and it showed how the council worked together on important matters, even in the middle of an election campaign.

He said in addition to residents having to travel long distances to attend court, the council had seen its licensing cases being heard at Scarborough.

"This has huge implications for all Craven residents, including vulnerable people, who now have to travel long distances for their cases to be heard. It also has a detrimental effect on local justice, given that witnesses, solicitors, and others, will also have the same travel and cost issues," he said.

Cllr Andy Brown, who seconded the motion, said it was 'massively more convenient' for all involved to have a justice centre in the heart of the community of where it served.

And Cllr Simon Myers said he was strongly supportive of justice being dealt with locally. "It is one of the oldest principles of English society that justice is dealt with locally and that people are tried by their peers and that means lay magistrates at Skipton Magistrates Court.

The move by the council follows claims made by solicitor Keith Blackwell that Skipton Magistrates could be very busy, but that work was being sent to 'prop up' less busy centres such as Harrogate.

The HM Courts and Tribunals Service has said that while 'listing is a judicial function, the pandemic forced some cases to be moved to ensure cases could be heard safely and with minimum delay'.

A spokesperson said: “Skipton Law Courts continue to hear civil and family cases and special arrangements can be made to hear cases locally.

“Although there is presently no scheduled trial time in Skipton, in individual cases travel distance can be considered when the case is listed and special arrangements can be made to hear cases locally.

"The Skipton courthouse also houses the county court which deals with civil and family hearings, and these cases are listed every day of the week.

It is the North and West Yorkshire Judicial Delivery Group which is responsible for listing arrangements for cases in Skipton and other magistrates’ courts across the region.

The body will hold a review into court patterns in June."