Justice deserts

Oldham County Court, where many Rochdale civil cases have been heard since Rochdale County Court was closed, could be shut down.

The controversial move is part of a national plan published by Courts and Tribunals Minister Shailesh Vara. It recommends the closure of 21 courts across the North-West.

Proposals recommend that cases for Oldham County Court - which has 31 staff and annual operating costs of £666,000 - will be transferred to the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

Oldham County Court, which has seven hearing rooms, had a usage rate of just 12 per cent in 2014/15.

Mr Vara said: “We are reforming the courts and tribunal service so that it meets the needs of modern day users.

“Access to justice is not just about attending court. As we bring in digital technology for better and more efficient access to justice, fewer people will need to physically be in a court.

“This means that we will need fewer buildings, and with many already underused and in poor quality, now is a good time to review the estate.”

Natalie Ceeney, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service chief executive, added: “Our estate is a significant asset. We currently have a number of surplus buildings and this consultation puts forward proposals on their future.

“As we modernise our service so that fewer people will need to attend a court in person, spending money on unsuitable or rarely used buildings is not good value for money for taxpayers.

“I encourage anyone with an interest to respond to the proposals.”

This consultation forms part of plans to modernise the courts and tribunal service to make it simpler, swifter and more efficient.

Planned alternatives to court room attendances include video conferencing to give evidence and using other civic and public buildings for hearings.

The consultation, which ends on 8 October, seeks to ensure that 95 per cent of people can reach their required court within an hour by car.