PIP Tribunals held in Courtrooms

Hi everyone. I had a PIP Tribunal on 4th Jan and it was held in a courtroom. The Tribunal was adjourned because the Panel demanded further medical evidence. The panel sat on the bench in the magistrates seats and I sat below them and several feet further back where the accused would sit in a criminal case. It was designed to intimidate and put me at a disadvantage. I rang HMCTS and asked why Tribunals were being held in courtrooms and was told it was because of the backlogs. I sent an e.mail to them requesting a less formal venue and a note was put on my file though there were no guarantees. The next time I rang HMCTS, i was told the information I was given was incorrect and Tribunals were being held in Courtrooms because all the original venues had been closed and they were being held in courts nationally. Has anyone else had their appeal held in a coutroom. I would be inteerested to know. Thank you

K

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Some Tribunal venues have always been in the same buildings as Civil and Criminal Courts and this does mean that on occasions court rooms have been used, there has also been some pressure to reduce costs with HM Courts and Tribunal Services and this does mean that some venues have been closed, but it is certainly not the case that all venues are being closed and panels should make an effort, if the facilities allow, to make the claimant as comfortable as possible.

Gordon