Tonge Calls For Family Court To Be Saved

2.37.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Aug 2003

Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has written to the Greater London Magistrates Courts Authority to express her opposition to plans to close the Richmond Family Proceedings Court and centralise the work in Marylebone Road.

The MP said; "I am extremely concerned that I have not received the consultation document on the proposal to centralise London Family Proceedings Courts."

"I see many representatives of deprived and dysfunctional families in my surgery and I am horrified at the inconvenience and expense this will cause if they have to travel to Marylebone, let alone the travel costs for professionals working on their cases and in the courts."

"This flies in the face of rational provision of services and any attempts to reduce travel and congestion in central London."