Geoff Mountjoy is surprised at my concerns over consultation about the Portsmouth community legal advice centre (see [2007] Gazette, 12 July, 15).


I first found out about it when I stumbled across a reference on the Legal Services Commission (LSC) website in early June. I then found on the Portsmouth City Council website a document from October 2006 saying consultation would take place with local not-for-profit providers straight away. The document appears to have been posted on the website only in May. I subsequently made contact with firms in the region, who told me they knew nothing of the plan.



I really hope a centre will improve services for clients in Portsmouth, but the chances of doing so will be greatly impaired while the plans remain such a well-kept secret. The LSC wants to attract a reasonable number of bids to develop the services in a way that better meets client needs. Informing only the providers currently in Portsmouth surely defeats that object.



Richard Miller, Legal Aid Practitioners Group, London