Case closed

AXE FALLING: Oldham County Court

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CONCERNS for local justice have been raised following the annoucnement that Oldham’s county and magistrates courts are to close.

The courts are among 86 of 91 threatened courts nationwide closing within two years.

Last July the government announced a three-month consultation period to consider plans to close all county courts in Greater Manchester except those of Wigan and Manchester.

Cases at Oldham Magistrates’ Court, which has 22 staff and annual operating costs of £418,000, could be transferred to Tameside. Cases at the county court which has 31 staff and costs £666,000 a year, will transfer to the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

In the North-West alone, the Lord Chancellor will close 10 courts. Only three will remain open, in St Helens, Stockport and West Cumbria.

Roger Lowe of Garratt’s solicitors, who is president of Oldham Law Association, said the decision was not a surprise: “As practitioners we could see it coming. I know Ashton isn’t miles away but it’s not local justice any longer.”

Daniel Prince, a partner at Pearson Solicitors on Union Street, is concerned about the effect this could have on the families: “It’s going to cause more inconvenience for our clients. A lot of people don’t have a great deal of money.”

Tim Hughes, from Cuttle & Co Solicitors on Union Street, said: “It’s an outrage — a disgrace.

“It affects access to real justice in the town for everybody.

“We’re all assuming the criminal courts will move to Tameside.

“Will there be more warrants issued as a result of people not turning up for court?”