by Hayley Robinson

A last ditch attempt to save Sittingbourne Magistrates’ Court from closure is set to begin next week.

Solicitors from legal firm Robin Murray and Co agreed to go ahead with a judicial review to challenge the decision by the Ministry of Justice to close the court after the High Court agreed to cap the fee for any unsuccessful case.

William Clegg QC has been hired to argue against the closure. This is listed for a day and half and could be heard any time between Monday and Friday.

Robin Murray and Co partner Simon Holmes, said: "We’ve been counting down the days and we are looking forward to the hearing. We are hoping for a positive outcome."

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson said: "I still believe it is the wrong decision and I hope the judicial review will find the government has acted improperly in this matter and will force ministers to reverse the closure of Sittingbourne Magistrates’ Court."

The government announced in December the court would close. It means magistrates, witnesses, defendants, police and representatives of all the other agencies that attend the Park Road court would have to travel to either Medway or Canterbury courts when it shuts its doors on Tuesday, May 31.

Lord Justice John Goldring, who was asked to respond to the ministry’s consultation to shut 157 courts nationally, echoed arguments made by Swale magistrates who said people living in villages near Sittingbourne and those in eastern Sheppey would have journeys of two hours to Canterbury or Chatham.

They said it went against the ministry’s own guidelines that no defendant should have a travelling time of more than 60 minutes.

It was also pointed out that Sittingbourne courthouse has disabled access, meets the criteria for facilities laid down by the ministry and is in use for more than 80 per cent of the time.