I WAS saddened and dismayed to read in last week's Guardian: Axe hangs over court.

This is a shameful proposal without good reason or excuse.

Over the years, I have been a frequent attender at the Northwich court-house. I have always been afforded the most friendly welcome by staff and advocates alike.

The concept of a local justice system has emerged for over six centuries and what we are now witnessing is an erosion of that concept.

This, together with restrictions being planned by the home secretary on the age-old right of trial by jury, will without doubt lead to miscarriages of justice.

Let us not forget that there is a by-election at Eddisbury next week. We ought to make all the candidates aware of the proposed plan to close down the court-house on the grounds that local justice is at stake.

With regard to Herefordshire, there is a Magistrates' Court in Leominster as well as Hereford itself.

PETER M COANE

Weaverham

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.