CLOSING Chippenham's courts and transferring services to Swindon would bring minimal savings and see the quality of justice suffer seriously, a magistrate has warned.

In a response paper published by the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunals Service it was announced that the 1990s-built Chippenham magistrates’ court, civil court and family court will close between April and June 2017.

Cases will instead be heard at the 1960s court building in Swindon, which the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner has said is in dire need of modernisation.

According to the paper, during 2014/15 the court at Chippenham was only used to 40 per cent of its capacity.

The paper outlines that “enabling works” are needed at Swindon in order to accommodate the workload from Chippenham, but all of this will be done before the relocation takes place.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said he could see the sense in reducing three courts to two in order to save public money.

He said: “I know from my years as a magistrate in Swindon that it is a busy court. So it is logical that the northern court is in Swindon rather than Chippenham; and there are good public transport links between the two towns.

“The figures suggest that court users across the county will not suffer any material impact from the closure of Chippenham. However I acknowledge that court users living close to Chippenham will be inconvenienced, and that is regrettable.

“I am concerned that the court buildings in Swindon are in dire need of modernisation. So I shall be lobbying the Ministry of Justice to stress that Swindon court buildings need urgent work to bring them up to date and to urge that Chippenham stays open until that work has been done.”

But some solicitors and magistrates who responded to the survey on the closure raised concerns.

One local solicitor said: “This is a rural area and many of our clients will struggle to get to court in Swindon.

"Most of our clients do not have a car or access to one. The bus from Trowbridge to Swindon… would take at least 90 minutes, travel would take even longer for those people who have to first get in to Trowbridge.”

A magistrate said: “There are three magistrates’ courts in Wiltshire - the oldest and most expensive to run is Swindon – it would minimise cost to close this court as opposed to Chippenham. The real estate value of the Swindon court is very considerably higher than that of Chippenham.”

Another solicitor responded: “As a relatively modern and purpose built facility, the annual running costs are modest and any savings in moving the facilities to Swindon, would be insignificant compared to the cost and disadvantage to court users.”

A magistrate said: “In the short and medium term the proposal is seriously flawed and closure of Chippenham will bring minimal savings and the quality of justice will suffer seriously.”

But the paper outlined that options were being looked at including the increased use of video conferencing so fewer people would have to physically go to court. It also states that the sale of Chippenham courts would go towards the running of the future court estate.

The paper states: “Consultation responses also highlighted the plans Swindon Borough Council has for redeveloping the centre of Swindon including the land where the courts currently sit.

“Any future opportunities that could benefit HM Courts & Tribunals Service will be carefully considered to ensure the most efficient and effective service is provided in Swindon.”