Almost £50m written off as court projects cancelled
Almost £50million of taxpayers' money has been written off by the coalition Government for cancelled court construction projects - including three in the West Midlands, official figures show.
Failed projects in Wolverhampton and West Bromwich are among the 10 court development schemes to be axed since 2010.
Ministry of Justice figures show that the Government racked up £48.8m when cancelling the projects.
The Government's management of courts was today today labelled a 'car crash'.
Among the cancelled projects was a proposed £36.9m plan for magistrates and county courts on the Fold Street car park in Wolverhampton.
The court would have fronted the Chapel Ash roundabout and would have had 15 courtrooms, offices, accommodation for judges, a custody area and waiting rooms.
The plans never went ahead, while similarly ambitious proposals in West Bromwich were also shelved.
They would have seen the old West Bromwich Magistrates Court in Lombard Street West replaced.
The multi-million pound project would have seen a former warehouse in Spon Lane, opposite Sandwell College, transformed into magistrates courts and office space for 50 staff.
There would also have been a custody suite and rooms for vulnerable witnesses.
Among the cancelled projects revealed by Justice Minister Shailesh Vara is £17.9m spent securing a lease to construct a magistrates' court site in Birmingham.
A further £11.5m was written off for constructing a new 24-courtroom court on the site.
Mr Vara said none of the courts where building projects were cancelled have closed and said 'the figures relate to sites acquired before the spending review 2010'.
The minister said the Government had taken the decision because the building projects did not offer taxpayers value for money.
He released the figures in response to a written parliamentary question from shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter.
Mr Slaughter said management of the courts had been a 'car crash' under the coalition.
He accused the Government of wasting millions mothballing empty buildings while shutting down dozens of courts.
Mr Slaughter said: "I'm staggered at the amount of money that this Government have wasted on failed court projects.
"In a time when living standards are increasingly squeezed and people are struggling with the cost of living, David Cameron is wasting millions of pounds.
"I'm particularly shocked at the £30m down the drain on just one court project alone in Birmingham.
"This is on top of the £56m already written off from the botched privatisation of the Ministry of Justice IT services last month.
"Management of the courts service has been a car crash under David Cameron.
"Having closed down dozens of courts they've then wasted millions mothballing empty buildings.
"This Government has continuously shown a complete inability to manage public funds responsibly or correctly. The British taxpayer deserves better."
