Eastleigh Magistrates Court to close (From This is Hampshire)

Eastleigh Magistrates Court to close

11:56am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Eastleigh Magistrates’ Court is set to close following a decision by the Ministry of Justice.

The court has not heard a single case in the last eight years.

During this time it is estimated to have cost Hampshire taxpayers more than £1 million.

The decision yesterday follows a public consultation to close 20 underused and inadequate magistrates’ courts around the country to save money and improve services.

No cases have been listed at Eastleigh Magistrates’ Court since the opening of a new magistrates’ court in Southampton in October 2001.

Before then, Eastleigh was underused with very low levels of work. The facilities and standard of the court also fall short of the minimum requirement for the provision of services expected by court users.

Currently the building in Leigh Road is used by 31 staff for administrative purposes, housing part of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fines Enforcement Team and is the base for the Civilian Enforcement Officers.