Disappointment Buxton not chosen as Nightingale Court

Published on 28 July 2020

High Peak Borough Council has expressed its disappointment that Buxton has not been chosen as a venue for a 'Nightingale Court.'

The Government has announced the initial ten locations for these temporary courts which have been set up to boost capacity and alleviate pressure on courts and tribunals resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Alan Barrow, Executive Councillor for Corporate Services, said: "We are very disappointed by the decision not to re-open the former Magistrates Court in Buxton as a Nightingale Court.

"Looking at the list of venues it would appear that the nearest of these temporary courts to the High Peak are at Fleetwood in Lancashire or Peterborough.

"The Council was opposed to the closure of Magistrates Court when it was announced four years ago and this would have been the ideal opportunity to see judicial services return to the High Peak. Instead it's a missed opportunity which still sees people from the borough having to travel often substantial distances to access court services."

Buxton Magistrates Court closed in June 2016. The Council, alongside other agencies, fought to see the service retained in the town but was unsuccessful.