Legal eagle slates closure of court

ALL change . . . Roger Lowe at Oldham Magistrates' Court

THE president of Oldham Law Association criticised this year's closure of Oldham Magistrates' Court and potential changes to small courts and personal injury claims in a speech at the association's annual dinner.

Roger Lowe, a criminal law solicitor who spent more than three decades working at the magistrates' court, said ordinary people must have good access to justice.

The dinner at the White Hart in Lydgate raised cash for Dr Kershaw's Hospice and attracted hundreds of guests from legal services including commercial, property, family and criminal law. Guests included high-street law firms, courtroom lawyers, barristers and judges.

Mr Lowe said Oldham Law Association was flourishing and the dinner was a celebration of the borough's legal industry. But he began by saying the magistrates' court closure was a bad decision which affected everyone interested in access to justice.

Mr Lowe works for Garretts Solicitors but was previously with Heath Sons and Broome, in Failsworth and Newton Heath.

He said: "I have practised for 35 years at Oldham Magistrates' Court and I consider Oldham to be my spiritual home.

"This year we have seen the closure of the magistrates' court and relocation of its activities elsewhere, which is very sad. Oldham County Court will close in the summer. It cannot be good for the public to have to go to Manchester or Ashton."

Scrapped

He also spoke about reported government plans to change how personal injury claims are dealt with, saying the proposals should be scrapped.

Media reports suggest the government is looking at changes including allowing small claims courts to handle all personal injury claims up to £5,000, rather thanup to £1,000, to reduce legal costs.

The government wants to save insurance sector costs by changing the system. But critics fear the changes would deny people access to justice and representation by lawyers.

The changes would leave injured people representing themselves in court, or paying for legal representation out of damages, which might be reduced, or simply not making a claim.

Mr Lowe said: "It seems wrong. Lawyers must band together and lobby the government from the point of view of lawyers and clients."

A raffle during the dinner raised £1,145 for Dr Kershaw's and the Bolton Destitute Animal Centre.