Topics currently featured on the Scottish Courts Web Site

Last updated : 3 October 2008 12:53 PM

New Courtroom for Alloa Sheriff Court

Work to refurbish Alloa Sheriff Court and install a second courtroom will now get underway following Clackmannanshire Council's decision to accept the Scottish Court Services (SCS) bid to buy the adjacent Council offices at 47 Drysdale Street, currently occupied by Revenues Services.

SCS has been seeking to extend the cramped facilities at the current court house to accommodate an increase in business demand and justice reforms. To deal with the current workload, some cases were being heard in Stirling Sheriff Court to reduce delays.

Now with a £1.5million investment, the new Alloa Sheriff Court will have an additional flexible courtroom on the ground floor along with a new public access to the court complex from Drysdale Street, a café facility operated by the Anthony Nolan Trust, additional witness accommodation, interview rooms and improvements to the public toilets and the custody area. The new complex will also house the Area Procurator Fiscal service with a separate public entrance and the Citizens Advice Bureau will remain as tenants of SCS at their current address.

Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service Eleanor Emberson said: "Increasing court capacity at Alloa has been one of our main priorities as facilities have been unsatisfactory for court users and court staff and the judiciary have had poor working conditions at this location for some time. We have been in discussion with Clackmannanshire Council for over six months now and I would like to extend my thanks to them for assisting us to bring this project to fruition. Being able to buy the adjacent Council property allows us to make these essential court improvements but still remain on the original site. When the work is complete, the new complex will provide the range of facilities which we would expect in a modern court complex."

Geraldine Watt, Area Procurator Fiscal for Central Scotland said: "I welcome the refurbishment of Alloa Sheriff Court which will provide improved modern facilities for victims and witnesses who attend court, making the whole experience more comfortable and less stressful. The installation of an additional courtroom will allow more cases to be prosecuted swiftly and efficiently, improving the delivery of justice for the local community."

Defence Solicitor Advocate, George Higgins, said: "Changes to Alloa Sheriff Court are long overdue and will be of great benefit to everybody involved whether they be witnesses, accused persons or people who work in the courts. Hopefully the court environment will become a more pleasant working environment and the administration of justice in Clackmannanshire should be vastly improved.

"It is a tribute to the staff who already work in the court that they have managed for so long to cope with the increasing workload in an appropriate manner and I look forward to the changes that are planned"

A spokesperson for the Criminal Justice Social Work Department added:

"Improved court facilities will assist Criminal Justice Social Work develop our role in the Criminal Justice System"

A representative of the Victim Support Witness Service commented:

"Victim Support (Scotland) Witness Service is delighted with the new arrangements being put in place for child and vulnerable adult witnesses where separate accommodation will be available, this should reduce intimidation concerns."

Work on the project is expected to get underway in January and take six months to complete.

Notes for Editors.

Under Court Unification proposals planned for 2009, the ownership of Alloa District Court Building would have transferred to the Scottish Court Service. SCS has negotiated that the District Court building at 66 Bank Street will remain in the Council's ownership and that SCS will instead buy the property at Drysdale Street for a financial investment of £324,000 which takes account of the value of both properties.

A graphic of the new courtroom is attached.

For further information contact: Susan Whiteford, Head of Corporate Communications 0131 221 6814