Kirkcaldy court annexe opens for business

The new court annexe in Kirkcaldy opens to business today.

Initially hearing custody cases, and in future sheriff and jury cases as well, the £3.7m project consists of two new criminal courtrooms, together with a new custody suite, co-located within the existing Kirkcaldy police station complex at St Brycedale Avenue. 

Its opening marks the fruition of a two year project to improve the facilities at Kirkcaldy. Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service says the new courtrooms will improve efficiency and flexibility in managing day-to-day business, increasing the number of courtrooms and providing improved accommodation for court users, including victims, witnesses and jurors. 

The immediate focus of the new annexe will be improved digital capability, as SCTS and courts prioritise critical business during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore court users are still strongly advised to stay away unless they have to attend for court proceedings, and strict hygiene and physical distancing measures will be inforce. 

Kirkcaldy sheriff clerk Neil Rawlings commented: “I am delighted these building works are now complete. We will use them effectively during this challenging time and we look forward to these much-improved facilities being available to court users in the future.” 

Eric McQueen, SCTS chief executive, aded: “There are so many opportunities which come with this new facility. We look forward to when we can welcome our court users into the new environment and we welcome the extra space and teleconferencing capability it gives us at this time.”