JPs may resign

Chairman of Derwentside Magistrates' Bench Arthur Maughan said many of the area's 37 magistrates would "seriously look at their future" if Consett court is closed.

The County Durham Magistrates' Courts Committee is considering closing the court after estimating that it would cost £115,984 to repair and maintain during the next five years.

Magistrates and residents in rural Derwentside fear they will have difficulty travelling to other courts.

The committee is also considering closing Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court, which it estimates would cost £70,517 to maintain over the next five years, making it the second most costly.

If both close, it will reduce the number of courts in the county from seven to five.

A final decision is expected in the summer after councils, police and other public bodies are consulted.

Leader of Derwentside District Council Alex Watson and Mr Maughan met representatives of the MCC last Friday, to outline their opposition to the closure.

The council's cabinet committee is expected to object to the proposal at a public meeting on Tuesday, April 17.

Mr Maughan said a number of magistrates in Derwentside felt unease at the proposal.

He said: "We all know we are appointed to serve the county and any of us are prepared to go anywhere.

"But this would make travelling a lot more frequent, and some magistrates would seriously look at their future.

"Magistrates and members of the public would have difficulty travelling, and I would like to see a more detailed analysis of this whole idea.

"It is pretty vital that our magistrates court is maintained, and I will be talking to a number of people over the coming months."

Mr Watson said the district had lost a number of vital services during the past two decades.

He said: "Enough is enough. This is one of the county's most superior courts and there is no need to close it down."

A spokesman for the committee said that no final decision had been made