Petition launched to save Hartlepool Magistrates' Court

Hartlepool Magistrates' Court is one of more than 90 courts and tribunals under threat of closure

A petition has been launched to fight the proposed closure of a Teesside magistrates' court.

The Ministry of Justice is consulting on plans to shut 91 courts and tribunals in England and Wales in a bid to cut "surplus capacity".

The chairman of the Hartlepool bench of magistrates, Peter Bowes, said axing the town's court "could end up costing money rather than saving it".

He has also written to local Labour MP, Ian Wright, to highlight the issue.

Mr Bowes told BBC Tees: "I personally don't believe the closure of Hartlepool would result in that objective being met.

"You've got building costs. In my opinion, not all those costs would be saved. A great number would still have to be paid because the building is on a lease.

"If the lease was sold, HMCTS [Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service] would obtain a capital receipt. The likelihood of that being realised is pretty low.

"It revolves around them being able to dispose of the building. In Hartlepool, if you look around, I don't see there being much scope for finding an alternative use for the building."

He said he also believed transferring cases to courts in Middlesbrough and Peterlee would result in costs being incurred through travel expenses for magistrates and police officers transporting suspects.

Courts under threat across England and Wales include 57 magistrates' courts, 19 county courts, two crown courts, four tribunal hearing centres and nine combined courts.

Announcing the plan in July, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for courts and legal aid, Shailesh Vara, said the service's estate was "underused" and cost the taxpayer about £500m every year.