LOCAL justice is being dispensed from Wigan from Monday.

The final cases were dealt with at Leigh Magistrates Court last Friday bringing to an end an 18 month period in which your Journal led a "Keep our Court" campaign.

That campaign, although it ultimately proved in vain, brought together a deep sense of commitment and was backed to the hilt by the majority of local people (on both sides of the law) who now face a tedious trip to Wigan.

But the final curtain has been drawn at Leigh, bringing to an end more than a century of truly local justice.

From Monday all criminal cases are being held at the impressive Wigan court house to where the whole Leigh operation will be moved, lock, stock and barrel.

There three courtrooms have been set aside to deal solely with cases which would have been dealt with at Leigh.

A farewell party was held at the Chapel Street building when court staff and magistrates past and present paid their last respects. Before the 'wake', chairman of Leigh bench Dennis Dunn, who strongly opposed the closure, admitted: "The facilities are better at Wigan but of course people are going to be inconvenienced simply because of the distance involved.

"What we have to do is make the best of a disappointing outcome. This is an important event in the life of Leigh."

There had been strong feeling among Leigh magistrates about the move and some months ago it seemed many would call it a day rather than travel to Wigan.

But Mr Dunn, who addressed fellow magistrates on the move and stressed the importance to the Leigh community to try to avoid more unsettlement, said that had not happened.

He said he felt it was the people who mattered most rather than the building and the almost en bloc transfer would go far in ensuring continuity and level of service. He said the separate court rooms at Wigan would operate for at least the remainder of this year and hoped the facility would continue.

"There has not been a mass resignation. All but two of the Leigh magistrates will transfer to Wigan and they were due to retire. I have tried to minimise at a court level the inconvenience that will be caused."

A spokesman for Wigan Council, who own the building, said: "There will be a temporary location for police at Chapel Street court building for 20 weeks. No final decision has been made about the future but the council will retain ownership."