Last court in town closes

OLDHAM County Court

OLDHAM'S only remaining court will close today under the court closure programme set by the Government.

Staff at Oldham County Court will celebrate its 123-year history with a special lunch and gathering after the public courts close this afternoon.

While most of the staff will transfer to the Manchester Civil Justice Centre, two district judges have decided to retire.

Guests, including solicitors and local advocates, have been invited to the court in New Radcliffe Street for a buffet lunch at 1pm followed by drinks until 6pm.

The closure has prompted the retirement of district judges Colin Fox, who has worked at the court for 20 years, and Martin Simpson, who is retiring after 16 years.

In a joint statement, they said: "We are sad the court is closing. We have enjoyed our work here and providing an important service to a community that stretches as far as the Yorkshire border."

The majority of the remaining 29 staff members will transfer to Manchester, although a handful will remain at local courts.

The local judiciary said of the closure: "It is a very sad day. A lot of the staff have worked here for many years.

Oldham County Court dates back to January 10, 1894, when the old building in Church Lane first opened.

But under a court closure programme announced by the Government in 2015, a 12-week consultation period was put in place to close Greater Manchester's county courts, with the exception of Wigan and Manchester. Oldham Magistrates' Court closed on September 23 last year, and cases have now been transferred to Tameside Magistrates' Court.