Civil Service union PCS slammed the closure of four local courts yesterday as the Scottish government’s axe continued to hack apart the justice system.

Courthouses in Dingwall, Duns, Haddington and Peebles closed their doors for the last time yesterday despite a massive campaign including industrial action by the union to save jobs and local access to justice.

PCS Scottish Courts branch chair Brian Carroll told the Morning Star: “It is a very sad day for the delivery of justice in Scotland that due to budget cuts as a result of a policy of austerity being implemented that staff, court users and the citizens of Scotland lose more vital public services.”

Scottish Courts Service chief executive Eric McQueen claimed: “The court closures have involved difficult decisions, but the status quo was not an option — we cannot make progress by avoiding change.

“We are now able to target investment to create a modern court structure throughout Scotland, with digital innovation at its heart.”