Plans for a new Coroners' Court for the Isle of Wight have been announced by the council.
The move aims to ensure bereaved families have their loved ones’ inquests heard at the earliest opportunity.
The Isle of Wight Council plans to redevelop the first floor of its offices at Seaclose to provide much needed and long overdue Coroners' Court facilities, to hear inquests concerning deaths that occurred on the Island.
Currently, the Coroners Service has to rely on facilities at the Isle of Wight law courts in Quay Street, Newport. Although the Court Service are supportive, their priority is criminal cases.
They have not been able to permit the coroner to use the crown court which is the only courtroom on the Island which has dedicated jury facilities, since the summer of 2022.
This, combined with reduced capacity within the coroner’s team, has significantly impacted on the way in which the coroner has been able to deliver the service.
The council's £86,000 investment in Seaclose, off Fairlee Road, Newport, aims to address this by providing dedicated Coroners' Court facilities on the Island for the first time. The plans include a large courtroom, jury retiring room, conference rooms and modern office space.
The Island's Senior Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, said:
"Attending an inquest can be a distressing experience for relatives and loved ones, and we do all we can to ensure anyone attending is made to feel as comfortable as possible.
“The new facilities at Seaclose will allow the Coroners Service to have readily available access to a court.
"This will facilitate the hearing of cases more efficiently, helping to minimise any stress or uncertainty which can come with waiting for an inquest and ensuring that families of the bereaved have their inquests at the earliest opportunity."
The Coroners Service annually manages an average of 775 reported deaths.
It is hoped the first inquests will be held at Seaclose by September 2024.
Councillor Karen Lucioni, Cabinet member for bereavement services, added: "The Coroners Service is used at a hugely difficult and emotional periods in an individual’s life and this renovation will be done with this in mind, to make the inquest and bereavement process as easy, and as positive as is possible.
"We are keen to assist the Senior Coroner in processing her caseload and having a courtroom which she can use can only have a positive benefit for families and in delivering an effective service. When not being used as a court the room will provide a large multi-functional room for the delivery of the council’s other services.”
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