Civic leaders in protest at court closure plans

The County Durham magistrates courts committee is consulting police, councils and the Crown Prosecution Service about the proposal.

The consultation report states that Consett court is the most expensive to maintain in the county, and Bishop Auckland the second most expensive. The committee wants to upgrade other courts with money saved by closing them.

It estimates £115,984 is needed to maintain Consett court over the next five years, and £70,517 for Bishop Auckland. The estimates have been challenged by council leaders.

A £2m replacement magistrates court is being built in Peterlee, and custody cases would be transferred there under the scheme.

Last year, The Northern Echo reported that officials were considering closing one or more courts. The five other courts in the county are at Darlington, Durham, Peterlee, Chester-le-Street and Newton Aycliffe. All of the courts were built in the 1960s.

The courts committee report said: "The magistrates courts committee is firmly of the view that the county can manage its business with fewer courthouses than the seven currently operating."

The leader of Derwentside District Council, Councillor Alex Watson, has written a letter to justices' chief executive Robert Whitehouse, saying plans to upgrade other courts would cost more than maintaining the one at Consett.

Bob Trotter, recently retired chairman of Teesdale and Weardale magistrates' bench, said: "Bishop Auckland should make an effort to retain its court."

Olive Brown, leader of Wear Valley District Council and a former magistrate, said: "We will be making a strong objection. It goes against the principle of local justice and it will cause many practical problems, especially with regard to transport because we are one of the lowest car owning districts in the country".

Magistrates courts committee deputy chief executive, Royston Dent, said no final decision would be made on the proposals until summer.