Shropshire Council is opposing plans to close six courts in the county as part of the Government’s drive to cut public spending.

It agreed yesterday to write to the Minister of Justice to voice its opposition and urge that no closures should take place unless, or until, all other options for “publicly acceptable alternatives for delivering justice in Shropshire” have been explored and consulted on.

And at a meeting last night, members of Market Drayton Town Council voted unanimously to write their own letter of objection to the ministry.

Market Drayton, Oswestry and Ludlow magistrates courts, together with the Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Oswestry county courts face the axe in a move that could save more than £430,000. Sixteen jobs are at risk.

Councillors backed a motion saying the authority supported the campaign to retain Shrewsbury County Court, and local community concerns in respect of the proposed loss of county and magistrates courts across Shropshire.

The motion was put by Martin Taylor-Smith on behalf of the Tory administration as an amendment to a motion from Lib Dem Miles Kenny which only opposed the closure of Shrewsbury County Court and the transfer of the service to Telford.

Councillor Taylor-Smith said he was “absolutely supportive” of Councillor Ken- ny’s concerns but the mot- ion needed to recognise that three magistrates courts and two other county courts were also under threat.

Councillor Kenny said the loss of the Shrewsbury court to Telford would be “disastrous for many vulnerable people”.

Lib Dem colleague, Beverley Baker, said some people in the rural areas who relied on public transport, would not be able to get to Telford and back on the same day.

“All of us deserve good access to justice,” she said.

Market Drayton councillors said they believed the closure of the town’s magistrates court would affect the “carriage of justice,” deter witnesses from giving evidence and create a risk of intimidation of witnesses and victims.

Councillor Roger Hughes said: “The Ministry of Justice is saying that one of the reasons it wants to close Market Drayton magistrates court is to better segregate witnesses from defendants and police at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court, but the risk of intimidation is horrendous.”