WESTMORLAND and Lonsdale’s MP has called on the government to bring back ‘local justice’ by re-opening Kendal magistrates’ court.

The court closed its doors at the end of June, after government announced that 91 “underused and dilapidated” buildings would be shut.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Tim Farron asked Dominic Raab, minister of State for Courts and Justice, what he was going to do to restore physical access to justice for families in the South Lakes.

Mr Raab was not able to give any assurances that the Government was prepared to re-open the building.

“The closure of Kendal court this summer has removed easy access to justice for hundreds of people, increasing pressure on the police, legal professionals and local families,” said Mr Farron.

“Since July, some local residents will have had to travel up to two and a half hours to Barrow or Lancaster to access the justice system - a journey which comes at a considerable cost.”

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Government argued that closing courts in poor quality buildings would raise £40 million to re-invest in the justice system, saving taxpayers £27 million per year.

Technology is at the forefront of the reforms, with online solutions, telephone and video hearings being utilised to reduce dependence on the court estate.

Milne Moser associate solicitor Suzie Kavanagh said that she had seen a “significant reduction” in work since the closure.

“My view remains that local people should have access to local justice and that includes criminal clients, family clients and those with civil matters,” she said.

“However, I fear that once a building has closed and life has moved on it would take something of epic proportion to make the government rethink it’s decision.

“Over time it will impact on the provision of local services particularly those advising on matters of a criminal nature.”

She said that she thought that Kendal people were travelling to Barrow and accessing the duty solicitor and also believed that a reduction in police officers was having an impact.

“You have reactive policing at the moment, in that officers respond to calls and they are not on the beat detecting crime,” she said. “Until monies are put into the provision of officers, the number of cases will not rise and therefore the courts throughout the county will remain quiet.”

Cumbria Police received £100.4m in total direct resource funding this year, £1.2m more than 2015-16. In March 2017, Cumbria Police had reserves of over £24m.