AN EMERGENCY meeting of the town's solicitors has condemned the closure threat to Leigh's County Court.

And after developing strategy to fight any Court Service closure (following a survey which ends on July 16), the seven firms represented at the Law Society meeting agreed to join The Journal's "Keep our Court Campaign".

In a first step, the Society have contacted their colleagues at Rochdale who unsuccessfully fought a switch to courts at Oldham.

"Their consultation period at Rochdale was a relatively short time and we will have the same problem. We will have to get our skates on," said society member Keith Freer of Widdows Mason.

"Any closure will have a drastic effect on local people," added Mr Freer.

"And our next fear is that the Court Service will close the Magistrates' Court in Chapel Street which will be even more devastating for those who have to use the court. Then even more people will have to travel to Wigan to receive justice."

The County Court workload includes divorces, child care access, damages claims and personal injuries, house re-possessions and small claims under £5,000.

"Any move to Salford or Wigan is going to seriously affect everyone who uses the court.

"The lower income families are going to be denied the right of appearing in court because they can't afford the cost of travel.

"Just imagine, say, a mother having to take two small children all the way to Salford for a court hearing on contact. Let alone the aggravation of travelling there, the cost is going to be prohibitive.

"The upper band type families are also going to be affected because they fall outside the legal aid. And middle band clients are going to have their legal aid claims looked at more closely and face an increased travel bill.

"The closure of Leigh County Court will keep costs down for the Government but increase costs for those who use it.

"Everyone who uses the court or may have use of the court should realise that this is a very serious situation and action to stop it needs to be taken now."

Petition forms are available for people to sign at all local solicitors.

Wigan Council and the Citizens' Advice Bureau have already expressed their concern.

Spokesman John Morris said if the Court Service group manager believed there was a strong case for closing the court, he would prepare a submission seeking the Lord Chancellor's authority to put the proposal out to public consultation.

"This consultation, if approved, will include local solicitors, advice agencies, the local judiciary, local authorities, the local Members of Parliament and the local chambers of commerce.

"Any public consultation will run for two months.

"It is however possible that the Group Manager may decide not to proceed further with the prospective proposal."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.