This proposal is so wrong. One person (a judge) should not hold the power of a decision due to personal biases.
Exactly. Jury trials are a fundamental component of a democratic system of law.
I have been very critical of the UK lately, but now I’m actually starting to get worried for the people there.
And regular people can circumvent it?
An judge usually has to explain his/her reasons for an verdict, an jury doesn't have to. The costs of inviting candidates, screening them and getting both sides to agree to the jury also has costs attached to it.
Well if rights have a cost then by all means just scrap them.