BRITAIN'S most senior legal expert believes a lifeline could be thrown to Northwich courthouse.

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, was contacted last week by Northwich MP Mike Hall, who is among the many figures who have been shocked by news that the Chesterway building could close.

Lord Irvine has reassured Mr Hall that the local authorities - Vale Royal Borough Council and Cheshire County Council - will have a right to appeal against any decision to close the courthouse, as well as a say in the decision in the first place.

Mr Hall was unaware of the plans until the Guardian revealed them to him last week.

He said: "I was tremendously concerned about this matter, being as there was no apparent public consultation being outlined.

"I immediately contacted Lord Irvine's office, and received a reply which makes things seem a little less drastic."

Cheshire's Magistrates' Court Committee is proposing to close Northwich courthouse as part of its bid for private money to finance its courts for the next 25 years.

It would mean defendants and witnesses involved in Northwich and Winsford cases having to travel to Chester, Crewe or Warrington, even for initial hearings.

But according to Lord Irvine, the law states that the authority which pays for public services has a substantial mandate to fight against the closure of courthouses.

This confirms what Colin Turner, Chief Executive of the courts committee, told the Guardian last week: "There will be no public consultation. We will be consulting at some point in the near future with the local authorities, however.

"We must rely on them to speak for their voters and residents."

Meanwhile, Vale Royal's Chief Executive, Bill Woods, has written to the committee to ask for more details of the plans. Council leader Arthur Neil will raise the issue for discussion at the next meeting of the council's top brass.

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