A last-ditch protest against the closure of Haddington Sheriff Court will take place on Tuesday.

The historic building will shut its doors for good on January 31. All sheriff and justice of the peace court business will be moved to Edinburgh.

Repeated pleas to reverse the Scottish Court Service (SCS) decision have fallen on deaf ears.

Now, politicians, solicitors and local businesses are gearing up for one last attempt to save the court.

County MSP Iain Gray was one of those who backed the Courier’s Save Our Court campaign.

He said: “We have a new Justice Secretary and this is a last-ditch opportunity for local people to show their opposition to the closure and urge Michael Matheson to think again.” ​ Angela Craig, solicitor at the town’s Garden Stirling and Burnet, has been representing clients there for more than 25 years.

More than 100 cases called at the sheriff court on Wednesday, with Sheriff Peter Braid remarking that next Wednesday’s roll was already looking busy.

Mrs Craig told the Courier they were planning to protest at 9am on Tuesday outside the court.

She said: “East Lothian is going to be the only local authority without a court. East Lothian and, in particular Haddington, is going to be marginalised.” The solicitor highlighted it would not just be criminal cases that were affected, with civil and matrimonial cases as well as child welfare hearings all transferring.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the town’s community council, added: “I really think we should have a court in Haddington and it means instead of being a county town you are being downgraded .” An SCS spokesman said recommendations in Shaping Scotland’s Court Services were approved by Parliament last June.

“The recommendations were based on extensive consultation and analysis and required to provide a court service for the future which could accommodate the planned reforms to the justice system, improve the facilities and services for court users and be affordable in the long term,” he said.

“Arrangements are well in hand to complete the transfer of business in January 2015. This includes the provision of video conference facilities from Haddington, allowing evidence of vulnerable witnesses to be given by remote link when appropriate.”