RESISTANCE is growing to another wave of closures of magistrates' courts.

The Lord Chancellor was inundated with objections when Ripon and Leyburn were among the seats of justice earmarked for closure in the late Nineties.

Despite hard-fought campaigns and even resignations from the bench in Ripon, both were shut.

Richmond, Pickering and Whitby could be next, with a consultation document recommending that all three are closed at the end of next year.

In Richmond, a public meeting is being held at the Courthouse next Monday at 4pm, giving the public an opportunity to have their say.

Richmondshire district council's chief executive Harry Tabiner has already indicated he feels the proposals are flawed.

He points out that with no other courthouse nearer than Northallerton, people called as defendants or witnesses would face even longer journeys to attend hearings and trials.

Mr Tabiner points out that Richmond has no train station and public transport in other parts of the district is barely adequate.

As a result, when members of the local authority's resources committee meet next week, they will be asked to consider adding their weight to Mr Tabiner's objections.