Timetable for Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court re-opening revealed

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court is to re-open this week.

The building has been included in phase one of plans to re-open courts across the country after the doors were closed at the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

Since then, cases from the district have been held at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

Kirkcaldy will re-open on Wednesday, June 3.

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It is one of five sheriff courts being re-activated to deal with custody cases and help reduce court sitting times. The others are Greenock, Dumbarton, Livingston and Airdrie.

The openings form part of the first phase of the Scottish Government’s Covid-19 Routemap.

Eric McQueen, chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, said: “Given the changing position on the easing of lockdown measures, our priority is to

ensure a safe and managed return of staff and judiciary to our buildings.

“This will be supported by a move to conducting more business online where it is appropriate to do so. The last few months have shown our capacity and appetite for change. The next will require that same commitment from everyone involved as we test and progress our recovery arrangements.

“Over the next few days we will share further plans on reopening and resuming summary criminal business and civil business. As we concentrate on managing the

backlog of work there will be no hearings taking place nor public access to our buildings in these initial weeks.

“From next week we will take the first of a series of steps which will continue for the duration of the Routemap phases.”

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