Halton Magistrates Court in Runcorn is to close following a Government review.
HM Courts And Tribunals Service (HMCTS) spokesman confirmed today that the facility is to shut.
Halton is among 86 courts and tribunals to close under the ‘modernisation’ plans.
Five premises listed in the original proposals that went to public consultation were spared the axe.
Shailesh Vara, courts and legal aid minister, announced the closures today.
He said many of the existing 460 court buildings are ‘underused’.
According to an HMCTS consultation Halton operates at 66% capacity
Documents published last year said Halton’s criminal caseload will be transferred to Warrington.
Critics said the move could risk jobs and increase travel costs and time for witnesses and workers such as probation and police.
A Halton Borough Council draft response had said that most of the region’s courts operated at 45% capacity – less than Halton.
Mr Vara said the closures will make the system more efficient.
He said: “The government is committed to modernising the way in which justice is accessed and delivered.
“We are investing over £700m over the next four years to update the court and tribunal estate, installing modern IT systems and making the justice system more efficient and effective for modern users.
“Working closely with the judiciary, we have begun installing wi-fi and digital systems in our criminal courts but much more needs to be done.
“We want to make the entire justice system more accessible to everyone – witnesses, victims, claimants, police and lawyers – by using modern technology including online plea, claims and evidence systems and video conferencing, reducing the need for people to travel to court.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/