Battle starts to save Northwich courts (From Northwich Guardian)

Battle starts to save Northwich courts

12:00pm Saturday 10th July 2010 in News

A CAMPAIGN is being launched to save mid Cheshire’s courts.

Northwich Magistrates’ Court and County Court, both based at the court house, in Chesterway, are facing the axe under Ministry of Justice proposals.

Northwich Town Council is writing to all town and parish councils in the area in a bid to save it.

Clr Bob Robinson said: “This is not just Northwich court but mid Cheshire’s court.

“Winsford doesn’t have a court and Middlewich doesn’t either.

“We should be fighting this as a mid Cheshire’s court and that should not be closed.”

Clr Robinson told the council that he worked at the court the last time it was threatened with closure, about 10 years ago.

He said asbestos was the first argument used to close the court house, then lack of usage was raised as the issue.

Campaigners joined forces then and the council hopes they can do so again.

Clr Arthur Neil said: “We should write to Middlewich Town Council and Winsford Town Council and make sure that they are aware of this and ask them to join with us in opposing this closure.”

As well as writing to the councils, councillors will also contact the three MPs, Graham Evans, Stephen O’Brien and Chancellor George Osborne, and the Vale Royal magistrates’ bench.

Clr Brian Cooke said: “We’re losing wards at the infirmary, the courts, a load of shops – why not get a bulldozer and knock us all down? We’re losing everything in this area – it’s going to be a ghost town.”