THE closure of Haddington’s Sheriff Court moves closer – with East Lothian court cases due for determination in 2015 already being earmarked for Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Haddington’s court will shut its doors for the last time in January 2015, with all court business making its way along the A1 to the Capital.

January 31 is earmarked as the last day of business at Haddington Sheriff Court, although that is a Saturday.

This week at the Haddington court, Sheriff Peter Braid continued an East Lothian case until April 9 next year and told 67-year-old Walter Innes that the matter would continue in Edinburgh instead.

The future of the Haddington building, which dates back to the mid-19th century, remains unclear.

Currently, it serves a population of about 100,000, but that is set to grow, with a number of large housing developments pencilled in around the county.

County MSP Iain Gray is one of those who has repeatedly voiced his opposition to closing the court.

He said: “Thanks to the dogmatic stubbornness of the Justice Secretary, the closure of our courts is growing ever closer. “It is already a reality in cases like this one, where a deferral takes the case beyond the closure date and out of Haddington altogether.

“Meanwhile, the Scottish Government press ahead with court reforms which will shift even more business from the High Court into the Sheriff Court.

“Edinburgh Sheriff Court is already struggling to cope and this is now the beginning of Haddington business about to land on them too. By this time next year, victims, witnesses, social workers and those dealing with family break-up will find themselves wasting time travelling to Edinburgh to a court which will not be able to cope with their cases.

“The Scottish Government should think again before it is too late and reverse this daft decision.” A Scottish Courts Service spokesman said: “In reaching our conclusions on Shaping Scotland’s Court Services we took account of the potential for variations in demand.

“The closure of the courts results in a redistribution of five per cent of court business and in all cases, including Haddington, the judicial and staffing resources will transfer to the receiving court.

“We remain confident that there is ample capacity in Edinburgh to accommodate the Haddington business.” While a Scottish Government spokeswoman added: “Responsibility for Scotland’s courts is rightly a matter for the judicially led and independent Scottish Court Service and not the Scottish Government.

“By making its proposed court closures and other changes to court business, SCS estimate they can save £1 million a year in running costs and £3 million in maintenance costs, money which can be spent on improving services and facilities at a smaller number of courts.”