Councillors join the fight to save Northwich magistrates's court (From Northwich Guardian)

Councillors join the fight to save Northwich magistrates's court

12:40pm Thursday 29th July 2010 in

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WINSFORD town councillors have joined the campaign to save the future of Northwich Magistrates’ Court.

Town mayor, Malcolm Gaskill, called plans to close the magistrates and county courts on Chester Way ‘ridiculous’.

This is the second time in 10 years the courts have faced the axe and, if implemented, will see all of its cases and staff relocated to either Chester, Runcorn or Crewe.

At a meeting of Winsford town council, on Monday, July 19, Lib Dem members agreed unanimously to campaign against the plans to shut the 41-year-old courts.

Town mayor Malcolm Gaskill said: “I don’t think transferring the legal courts to Chester is the right thing to do.

“The transport links are just not good enough. “If you’ve got to be in court by nine o’clock in the morning you would have to leave at six.

“If you’re asked to give evidence – and I’ve done it myself – you often look for reasons not to go, moving the court to Chester will make things really difficult for people.

“Whilst I’m weary about the courts closing I think a better option would be for them to move to Crewe, it’s the obvious place for convenience and ease of travel with the bus and train services that go there.”

However, not all councillors were convinced that even Crewe provided a reasonable alternative.

Clr Brandon Parkey said: “There are reasonable links to Crewe from Winsford but that doesn’t apply to Northwich and the villages in the area.”

The councillors also called upon a letter written by Chris Johnson, solicitor and partner at Moss Haselhurst, which stated: “The closure will have an adverse effect upon mid Cheshire.

“We are already seeing a removal of social resources from mid Cheshire to Chester, namely the re-deployment of personnel from the former Vale Royal council and Northwich Social Services.

“Indeed the proposals take no account whatsoever of anywhere other than Northwich.

“All the statistics for public transport quote only the train and bus times from Northwich, conveniently ignoring Winsford and the numerous villages which make up the majority of the area.”

Clr Malcolm Gaskill said that despite not having talked closely with Mr Johnson, he agreed with what he had to say.