DISUSED Keighley Magistrates’ Court in Bingley may finally be up for sale this month – four years after it closed its doors and stopped dispensing justice.
It was formally shut and its lease was terminated back in 2011, but since when confusion over severing three corridors which linked it to the town’s police station has prevented it being put on the market.
Shipley parliamentary candidate Philip Davies has campaigned for the matter to be resolved between West Yorkshire Police and the court’s agents – who were at first unable to decide responsibility for separating the two buildings.
Mr Davies has now received a letter from the then Under Secretary for Justice Shailesh Vara which states: “You may wish to know that The scope of the works to separate the two properties on the site is to be agreed with police and we expect to go to market seeking best and final offers in April.
Mr Davies said he was relieved at this, further headway was being made in solving the problem of the big empty building on Bradford Road – which as it was estimated to be costing the tax payer more than £5,000 a month despite being shut.
“This is definitely a big step in the right direction,” said Mr Davies, adding that he would continue to apply pressure where needed to get the matter resolved as swiftly as possible.
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