MP says delays to Taunton Crown Court repairs 'scandalous'
Lee Baker, a solicitor at Amicus Law in Taunton, said: "A lot of our clients mention it's affecting their mental well-being, both the victims and the defendants want closure on these cases, not for it to be kicked on for what can be 12 months."He added that it is affecting people in different ways."Where you have divorce cases delayed, houses can't be sold, there's an economic knock-on effect in the area. There might be vulnerable children involved. Judges can't make decisions on where they're placed," Mr Baker said.Mr Amos said he has been promised completion of the repairs 12 months from now by the government."I'm determined to ensure we get the best possible outcome for our county town," Mr Amos added."I will be keeping a careful watch on progress from here on - making sure Taunton can't be ignored."The Ministry of Justice said that the repairs would "improve the experience of coming to court for local communities, offering more accessible facilities and improving the resilience of the building for the future".
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