AN MP has been asked to intervene to help save a magistrates court from closure.

Peter Bowes, chairman of the Hartlepool bench of magistrates, has written to the town's Labour MP Iain Wright saying the proposed closure of the court was not in the public interest, or in the interests of justice.

Plans to cut 91 courts and tribunals across England and Wales are being consulted on by the Ministry of Justice.

The move is to cut "surplus capacity" within the court system.

But Mr Bowes said closing Hartlepool's court could end up costing money, rather than saving it, costing the town jobs and leaving it with an empty building which would still have to be paid for under the current lease.

In his letter to Mr Wright, he said: "The proposal will deny people access to local justice.

"In many cases people returning from court in the afternoon will not have access to public transport upon arrival back into Hartlepool.

"Hartlepool Police office may also close as prisoners end up being diverted to Middlesbrough."

He said court users with dependents, especially children, would be disadvantaged because of the hour's journey to the magistrates court in Middlesbrough by public transport, and that the plan would lead to more warrants being issued for people who didn't make it to their cases.

Domestic violence services would also suffer, he said, as having to travel to Teesside added another barrier to the victims - and even worse, the victim may end up using the same public transport as the defendant.

The court at Hartlepool is a magistrates and county court and also deals with disability tribunal and appeal services. Services would be transferred to Middlesbrough and Peterlee under the proposals.

Mr Bowes added: "I represent the Magistrates who serve Hartlepool. We believe that the proposal to close the courts is not in the public interest & is not in the interest of justice. Closure will result in real and significant damage to Hartlepool’s society and its people."

Mr Wright was unavailable for comment yesterday, but he said last month: "Seeing justice being done, and done so at a location close and convenient to them, is vital for victims of crimes and their families."