Deputy town mayor Jennifer Holbrook has suggested that if The Sessions House closed, it could become a new home for the heritage centre.

"Certainly in terms of a museum and a archive centre it would make a lovely building," she said.

"The existing heritage centre is a lovely building but it is rather small."

Clr Holbrook said an up-to-date information service in the imposing 19th century building could rival the grand heritage centre in Chester.

Last week the Knutsford Guardian revealed that the listed building needed 'significant investment' and Government bosses had not ruled out closure.

Yesterday (Tuesday) the Lord Chancellor's department, responsible for more than 350 court buildings nationwide, again said that the future of Knutsford's crown court was uncertain.

They said other crown courts that had been sold off usually ended up in the hands of the local authority.

"In some examples they have been used for civic functions like museums and town hall chambers," said a spokesman.

Clr Holbrook wants The Sessions House, built in 1818, to continue as a crown court.

But if not she said she didn't want it converted into a lesiure venue.

"I would certainly not want it as somebody has suggested as a hotel and another restaurant," she said."It is a very sombre building."

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