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ADRIAN OWENS - Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, West Lancashire
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Delay suggests hope in court battle
A delay in a Government decision on transferring many Ormskirk court cases to magistrates’ courts in Chorley or Leyland provides a “ray of hope” says the district councillor who led the council opposition to the plans in the summer. Adrian Owens feels cautiously optimistic about the 5-month delay since the merger proposals were submitted to the Government. He said “This year structural changes to magistrates’ courts in two other parts of the country have been made within 3 months of the proposals reaching a minister’s desk. This much longer delay in Ormskirk’s case might mean that the Government is taking seriously the massive opposition of Ormskirk magistrates backed by the cross-party opposition on the district council.” “While the delay is very unsettling for the magistrates concerned, there is now a ray of hope that this misguided proposal can be averted, particularly as the council has urged Rosie Cooper to continue to oppose the scheme on the floor of the House of Commons if the Government persists in pushing forward the merger proposal.” In July, the district council passed a motion opposing plans for the merger noting the strong opposition of Ormskirk magistrates and expressing concerns about transport links and local cost-effective justice. Copyright © 2006, Adrian Owens - Revised -- 11/11/06 |
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