BURY'S modern courthouse is set to take on a massively increased workload.

Controversial plans to close Bolton magistrates court will mean cases being dealt with in Bury.

The closure of Bolton is recommended in a radical review by the Greater Manchester Magistrates' Court Committee (GMMCC), stating: "Bolton's court does not meet the requirements of a modern magistrates court."

A 12-week consultation period is now under way, but if the plan goes ahead, the Bolton court could close by December 2002.

The 64-year-old Bolton courthouse would need £700,000 of work over the next ten years to bring it up to standard, said the GMMCC report.

The report detailed a list of complaints, including 40 escape attempts in the past five years.

It argued moving cases to Bury's magistrates court, off Peel Way, would benefit court users in the future, reduce over-capacity and provide financial savings estimated at around £350,000 over five years.

All Bolton magistrates would sit at Bury, with 70 per cent of existing staff at the Bolton court redeployed. A joint Bolton and Bury duty solicitor scheme could also be created.

The consultation process on the GMMCC's recommendations will conclude at the end of March, and a meeting will be held in May to review responses.

But Bolton's MPs, Bolton Council and the Law Society have already objected to the plans.