Cutbacks will close six Shropshire courts

Six courts in Shropshire are to close under the coalition Government's cost-cutting drive.

Ludlow, Oswestry and Market Drayton magistrate courts, together with Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Ludlow county courts, are to be axed.

A total of 93 magistrates courts and 49 county courts are to go across England and Wales - saving an estimated £15 million a year in running costs, plus an extra £22m in maintaining the buildings.

Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly said the current system was "unsustainable" in which many courts were left idle for long periods.

Shropshire civic leaders today hit out at the closures, describing them as a "devastating" blow for the delivery of justice at a local level.

The cuts could see defendants in criminal matters forced to travel to Shrewsbury or Telford from all corners of the county for hearings

Councillor Roger Smith, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "It's a facility that is needed because once it's gone it will create problems with everything moving away to Shrewsbury.

"It's another devastating blow for the town."

In south Shropshire, Councillor Bob Tilt, chairman of Ashford Carbonell Parish Council and a former chairman of the bench at Ludlow Magistrates Court, said: "My fear is that once the court is closed, defendants and witnesses will not attend court, either in Shrewsbury or Telford, warrants will have to be issued and people will have to be brought in under warrant which will cost."

Former Ludlow Magistrate Val Hardwick, who was on the bench for 11 years, said: "I'm very, very sad to see a local court closed, because to me, local justice is very important.

"If you have defendants travelling to Telford that's going to be very difficult because there is no real transport system."

Richard Lloyd, leading partner for the Oswestry GHP Legal firm said the closures were detrimental.

Under the changes, ministers want to look at technology to save money. It means future disputes could be resolved online or via video and telephone links - raising fears of job losses.

Mr Djanogly said changes to the court system would mean a "better, more efficient and more modern" system of justice.

But Labour attacked the closures, branding it a "wholesale destruction" of the foundations of British justice.

By Sunita Patel and Tom Johannsen