Concern over court closure plan

Rutherglen District Court would close under the plans

Concern has been raised over plans to shut Rutherglen and Kirkintilloch district courts.

The move, part of wider criminal justice reforms, would see court business transferred to Glasgow.

But Rutherglen Labour MSP James Kelly said the proposal would deny people access to local justice.

The Scottish Courts Service (SCS) said the cost of running the district courts in Rutherglen and Kirkintilloch could no longer be justified.

Mr Kelly, who has raised his concerns with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, said: "Rutherglen District Court has a good reputation for administering local justice and provides an important service to local people who would have to travel further afield if the plans went ahead."

Scotland's planned justice reforms will see the running of the lower courts transferred from councils to the SCS.

SCS chief executive Elanor Emberson said: "It is always difficult to consider closing local courts, but SCS believes these arrangements would deliver an improved service to the public and also represent good value for public money."

"Focussing on one location will offer opportunities for future investment to provide better, more modern and more secure court facilities."

South Lanarkshire Council is currently considering its response to the closure plan.