NORTH Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner said proposals to close Northallerton’s only court look as if they were “drawn up on the back of an envelope”.

Julia Mulligan says she has written to the Justice Minister as a matter of urgency over a government proposal to close the town’s magistrates court.

She says the analysis contained within the Ministry of Justice consultation on the move contains “basic misunderstandings” about North Yorkshire.

It outlines plans to close the courthouse on Racecourse Lane and distribute the work to courts in York, Harrogate, Skipton and Teesside Magistrates Court in Middlesbrough.

Some concerns have already raised that the proposal does not sufficiently consider the lack of public transport in North Yorkshire.

Last week, Richmond MP Rishi Sunak highlighted how defendants, witnesses and other people involved in court cases would have difficulty reaching the alternative courts by 10am on public transport. He was also concerned that Darlington Magistrates Court - the nearest court for those in the north of the county – did not feature in the proposals.

He will be raising the issue with Justice Minister Lucy Frazer later this month.

Both Mr Sunak and Mrs Mulligan are also concerned that the consultation documents appear to contain incorrect data.

Julia Mulligan, elected Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said: “I am deeply concerned about the proposal to close Northallerton Magistrates’ Court.

“In the first instance, the quality of the consultation from the Ministry of Justice is very poor, containing some basic misunderstandings about North Yorkshire—it’s almost as if it’s been drawn up on the back of an envelope.

“So their analysis is certainly not a sufficient basis for decision-making of any sort. A much more constructive approach would be for local partners to work together to come up with a local plan.

“In light of these concerns I have written to the Minister as a matter of urgency.”

Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said: “This government is investing over £1billion to reform and modernise the justice system – making it more convenient, easier to use, and providing better value for the taxpayer.

“As we increase the use of digital services, it makes sense to consider the wider role and need for Court buildings and assess whether some are still necessary to provide effective access to justice. Where physical courts are to close, every penny raised will be put back into funding changes which will make justice easier to access for all at the same time as offering protections for the most vulnerable.”