SOLICITORS and politicians are calling for Haddington Sheriff Court to be reborn – as it prepares to shut its doors for good.

The court will officially close at the end of this month, with all court business moving into Edinburgh.

Campaigns to see a reversal of the decision to close the Court Street building have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.

But local solicitor Angela Craig has organised a public meeting next Friday (January 30) in a bid for a last-gasp reprieve, with the hope that the court could become a summary sheriff court.

The solicitor, of Haddington’s Garden Stirling Burnet, said: “The campaign against the closure of the court as a vital public service generated huge local backing – and we hope people will turn out in large numbers for this meeting.

“The plans to move all business to Edinburgh Sheriff Court were not sensible or well-thought-out given the large increase in summary criminal cases being processed in Scottish courts.

“This has already led to complaints of overcrowding at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

“The Scottish Government will soon start the recruitment process for ‘Summary Sheriffs’, who can do almost exactly what a current sheriff can do. A Summary Sheriff Court maintains justice locally [although jury trials would move to Edinburgh] but summary sheriffs will be on a much lower salary scale, so savings can be made while still preserving the link between the East Lothian community and local justice.” Mrs Craig, who has represented clients at the court for 25 years, will speak at the meeting at Haddington’s St Mary’s Parish Church, which will be chaired by the Rev Jennifer Macrae.

The meeting, 7-9pm, will outline the new focus on the fight to keep court provision in the county, which is one of the fastest growing areas in Scotland in terms of population.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, is invited, while county MSP Iain Gray, along with Labour colleague and East Lothian Council leader Willie Inne, will be in attendance.

But Mr Wheelhouse has turned the invitation down and said: “As I have previously indicated to local campaigners, due to the Ministerial Code of Conduct I am now unable to comment on the matter of the future of Haddington Sheriff Court, given any comment or intervention could potentially be perceived as a constituency conflict of interest.

“While implementation of court reforms are now within my new ministerial portfolio, I have recused myself from the decision-making process regarding the future of courts across the South of Scotland parliamentary region and any decisions on local sheriff courts will instead be taken on behalf of Scottish Ministers by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson.”