FRANK Sinatra famously once sang: “And now, the end is here. And so I face the final curtain.” Never have two lines from a song been more appropriate than today, when Haddington Sheriff Court shuts its doors for the last time.

The court has been a regular feature of the East Lothian Courier/Haddingtonshire Courier life for more than 150 years.

The type of case has changed down the years but the importance of the court surely has not.

Justice, like news, is of extreme importance at a local level.

Knowing that justice is being dealt on your doorstep is of paramount importance and it remains to be seen if people feel that way when business starts at Edinburgh Sheriff Court next week.

People, by and large, do not like change. And, make no bones about it, moving East Lothian’s court business into the Capital is a sizeable change.

The decision comes at a time when East Lothian is facing up to the task of creating space for 10,050 more homes within the next decade.

An increase in population will inevitably and unfortunately bring more crime.

There is also the fear of the unknown and just how Edinburgh Sheriff Court will cope with the increase in business in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Court Service says it will manage, while local solicitors and politicians say that that is not the case.

That’s all very well and only time will tell who is correct but what about those in East Lothian?

If someone cannot afford to attend Haddington Sheriff Court when they are travelling from Dunbar, Musselburgh or Humbie why would they be able to afford to travel into Edinburgh?

Does it mean local police officers will be spending more time out of the county at Edinburgh Sheriff Court?

What about the impact on Haddington town centre?

Not only is there an empty building on the busy Court Street, but what about neighbouring businesses?

There must have been in excess of 200 cases calling at Haddington Sheriff Court most weeks. How many of those people go to a nearby shop for a cup of coffee or a juice or a cake?

Will that have an impact on local jobs? Will solicitors move to Edinburgh to be closer to the court?

It’s a lot of questions and, quite simply, nobody has the answers.

Only time will tell if this is a good move.

FRANK Sinatra famously once sang: “And now, the end is here. And so I face the final curtain.” Never have two lines from a song been more appropriate than today, when Haddington Sheriff Court shuts its doors for the last time.

The court has been a regular feature of the East Lothian Courier/Haddingtonshire Courier life for more than 150 years.

The type of case has changed down the years but the importance of the court surely has not.

Justice, like news, is of extreme importance at a local level.

Knowing that justice is being dealt on your doorstep is of paramount importance and it remains to be seen if people feel that way when business starts at Edinburgh Sheriff Court next week.

People, by and large, do not like change. And, make no bones about it, moving East Lothian’s court business into the Capital is a sizeable change.

The decision comes at a time when East Lothian is facing up to the task of creating space for 10,050 more homes within the next decade.

An increase in population will inevitably and unfortunately bring more crime.

There is also the fear of the unknown and just how Edinburgh Sheriff Court will cope with the increase in business in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Court Service says it will manage, while local solicitors and politicians say that that is not the case.

That’s all very well and only time will tell who is correct but what about those in East Lothian?

If someone cannot afford to attend Haddington Sheriff Court when they are travelling from Dunbar, Musselburgh or Humbie why would they be able to afford to travel into Edinburgh?

Does it mean local police officers will be spending more time out of the county at Edinburgh Sheriff Court?

What about the impact on Haddington town centre?

Not only is there an empty building on the busy Court Street, but what about neighbouring businesses?

There must have been in excess of 200 cases calling at Haddington Sheriff Court most weeks. How many of those people go to a nearby shop for a cup of coffee or a juice or a cake?

Will that have an impact on local jobs? Will solicitors move to Edinburgh to be closer to the court?

It’s a lot of questions and, quite simply, nobody has the answers.

Only time will tell if this is a good move.