THE death knell has been sounded for Chester-le-Street Magistrates' Court, following more than a year of debate.

County Durham Magistrates' Court Committee has finally taken the decision to close the Chester-le-Street court - pending a consultation exercise.

The closure would result in cases being dispersed to the three remaining courts in the north of the county, in Peterlee, Consett and Durham City.

First, the committee will carry out a two-month consultation exercise with bodies affected by the move, such as the Crown Prosecution Service and Victim Support, and says it is willing to consider any workable suggestions that could avert the closure.

But the committee's chief executive Bob Whitehouse has said keeping all four courts open is not an option.

He said: "If people can come up with reasoning around the prospect of closing Chester-le-Street which we haven't thought of, we will consider it, because we don't have the monopoly on good ideas."

Proposals to close either Consett or Bishop Auckland magistrates' courts were met with strong protests when touted last year. The idea was eventually dropped because they served rural areas with little public transport, leaving either Chester-le-Street or Durham court facing the axe. The sites are only six miles apart and were seen to be better served by bus and rail routes.

Mr Whitehouse said one court had to go, because collectively they are being used less than 50 per cent of the time.

He said: "It's not a good use of public money and we can't just waste public money on something that's not up to modern standards.

"Most of the buildings were built in the 1960s and 1970s for smaller courts, when we didn't have the need for the facilities we have now."

Some of the money saved by the closure will be spent on upgrading the other courts.

Councillor Malcolm Pratt, leader of Chester-le-Street District Council, said he would not welcome a move that saw people having to travel further to court.

He said: "I haven't seen any proposals yet from the Lord Chancellor's department, but I would be concerned if it meant those involved in the prosecution and defence had to travel unreasonable distances."

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation should contact the court committee's deputy chief executive, Royston Dent, on 0191-384 4455.