CRIMINAL proceedings previously heard in Halton Magistrates' and Warrington Magistrates' Court would be relocated to Warrington Combined Court under a justice system reform.

Almost one fifth of court buildings in England and Wales could close under new Government plans with 18 court buildings in the north west recommended for closure in a consultation published by Courts Minister, Shailesh Vara.

Halton Magistrates’ Court, Warrington Magistrates Court and Warrington County Court would be affected by the changes.

Halton Magistrates’ Court is one of two courts in the North Cheshire justice area and its workload is administered from Warrington Magistrates' Court.

It is proposed that Halton Magistrates’ Court is closed and its workload transferred to Warrington Magistrates’ Court. 

This proposal forms part of a plan to relocate Warrington Magistrates’ Court to the Warrington Combined Court on Legh Street.

A spokesman said: "The magistrates’ court will be located alongside the crown court in a single venue for criminal work, where court users and staff will benefit from a better standard of accommodation. 

"This proposal is dependent on the closure of Warrington County Court to create capacity for the incoming workload.

"Should Halton Magistrates’ Court close it will enable the work to be administered in a single venue and allow the receiving court to be more responsive and flexible with the listing of cases, meeting user and workflow demands more effectively. 

"An improved service will be delivered with courts being used more efficiently."
Warrington County Court is one of four county courts in Cheshire and deals with civil and some family work.

It is proposed that Warrington County Court is closed and the workload is transferred between Liverpool Civil and Family Court and Manchester County Court. 

But the proposed plans have been met with a number of concerns voiced by union GMB, who questioned why it has taken 10 years for a trial to take place.

Stuart Harrison, GMB Organiser, said "GMB is calling on Michael Gove to rethink, this will not only put people out of work, but will also increase travelling time and cost for any relocations available.

"If Michael Gove thinks that these courts are not being used fully, why does it take 10 years for a trial to take place when two workers are killed at a construction site because of a crane collapse?"