DISMAY and disappointment greeted a Government announcement that three of the region’s courts are to be closed.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service first revealed plans to shut Consett Magistrates’ Court, Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court and County Court and Morpeth County Court, along with 88 others around the country, back in July.

Following a consultation, it today (Thursday, February 11) confirmed 86 of those 91 courts and tribunals will close – including Consett, Hartlepool and Morpeth.

Justice Minister Shailesh Vara said the Government was investing £700m over four years in updating courts and tribunals but many are underused, with nearly half empty at least half of the time.

Mr Vara conceded closures were “difficult decisions” and communities had strong allegiances to local courts, but he said: “Changes to the estate are vital if we are to modernise a system which everybody accepts is unwieldy, inefficient, slow, expensive to maintain and unduly bureaucratic.”

Ron Hogg, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, said he was disappointed and, while he understood the “cost-saving rational”, was worried that victims and witnesses would have to travel further and incur costs doing so.

“I also fear that some people being prosecuted will decide not to travel, meaning that police time will need to be spent locating them.”

North West Durham MP Pat Glass said: “It’s incredibly disappointing. Police resources will be incredibly stretched. I’m also concerned about the impact on witnesses.”

North-East Ukip MEP Jonathan Arnott said closing courts ran totally contrary to the principle that justice should be local.

“Justice should be seen to be done in the local community by local magistrates but year after year the justice system is being eroded.”

Peter Bowes, deputy chairman of the Hartlepool bench of magistrates, said he was disappointed at the outcome and Jonathan Smithers, president of the Law Society, said the closures would make it more difficult for people to get to court, hitting those living in rural areas, with disabilities and lower incomes hardest.

“Combined with increases in court fees and reductions in eligibility for legal aid, many of the closures will serve to deepen the inequalities in the justice system between those who can and cannot afford to pay,” he added.

Mr Vara said more than 97 per cent of citizens would still be able to reach their required court within one hour by car.

Morpeth will close between February and June, Consett between July and September and Hartlepool between next January and March.