Motoring courts to move out of Shropshire

People in towns in the north of the county such as Oswestry and Ellesmere will be forced into a 100-mile round trip to Kidderminster from September to attend court to have their cases heard.

Every motoring offence in Shropshire, apart from those committed on motorways, will now be heard at Kidderminster Magistrates Court.

Solicitors in Shropshire today hit out at the plans. Adrian Roberts of Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors said they were "completely unacceptable".

And Oliver Nicholas, a motoring law specialist for PCB Solicitors, said he feared it would lead to people admitting offences rather than travel to a court out the county.

Fears have also been raised that the move will increase the stress and financial burden on legal companies which will have to send solicitors to hearings in Kidderminster.

Justice minister Damian Green wants low-level road traffic offences dealt with in dedicated regional traffic courts. Kidderminster will act as the regional centre for the West Mercia force area.

There are about 500,000 motoring cases currently heard in magistrates courts each year nationally and the Government insists the new system will reduce delays.

People in Oswestry and Whitchurch would face 52-mile journeys to Kidderminster.

The news comes just days after it was revealed Shrewsbury Magistrates Court will be downgraded from August 5.

Mr Roberts said: "If you live in Oswestry and face the prospect of being disqualified from driving then you will have to arrange to use public transport and I think it's completely unacceptable."

He added: "On a business level we find it very stressful and every defence practice in this county will suffer financially."

Mr Nicholas said: "My biggest concern is that people will plead guilty because they won't be able to afford to get to Kidderminster, which is wrong."

A spokesman for HM Courts & Tribunals said: "Motorway work from West Mercia will continue to be dealt with in Shropshire. All other motoring matters will be dealt with in Kidderminster in line with the Ministry of Justice's Transforming the CJS – A Strategy and Action Plan."