THE shock closure of Leigh Magistrates Court is going ahead despite a huge campaign.

A protest of community groups and residents backed by councillors, MPs, local magistrates, solicitors and the Citizens Advice Bureau led to an appeal to the Lord Chancellors Department.

But the Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine has rejected pleas to keep the magistrates' court in Leigh.

The modern courthouse -- a single-storey building next to the town's police headquarters in Chapel Street -- will now close sometime this year and the court business transferred to Wigan.

Wigan Council leader Lord Smith of Leigh slammed the decision, saying: "This is a bad decision made in the interests of the professionals not the public. I am extremely disappointed and angry that the views of the local authority, the Leigh Magistrates' Court and the people of Leigh have not been taken on board."

He added: "They have ripped the heart out of the town. It is a sad day for Leigh."

Objectors have argued since the radical plans to streamline the judiciary were announced in November 1999 that closure would be against the interests of local people, both defendants and their families and also witnesses giving evidence.

Those already in difficult and stressful circumstances would have to travel up to 12 miles and those relying on public transport facilities would be especially hard hit.

The court provides services to around 100,000 people and the council argued that there could be a significant impact on the local economy and in particular the small businesses near the courts.

Lord Smith, who went to the Lord Chancellors Department in London to personally present the case to keep the court open, added: "If the transfer of Wigan police station to a new out of town location goes ahead, we will have the farcical situation of a police station in Leigh situated next to a closed court and a magistrates court in Wigan next to a closed police station."

Petitions against closure were placed in Leigh town hall, Atherton and Tyldesley district offices and Leigh library and local residents expressed overwhelming opposition to the plans.

Lord Smith had asked that a decision be postponed until after April when a new courts committee across Greater Manchester was put in place which could have led to more cases being referred from Salford to Leigh courts.

In a letter to Wigan Council, the Lord Chancellor's Department said: "In respect of the Leigh Magistrates' Court, although each of its three courtrooms is used, the MCC - North and West Greater Manchester Magistrates' Courts Committee - is concerned about health and safety and security implications at the court. Also, the alternative court at Wigan has 10 courtrooms, but only uses six. The transfer of work will ensure better utilisation of facilities at the MCC's disposal."

The letter continued that a maximum journey time of one hour was not an "unreasonable" distance.

It concluded: "The courts committee may now proceed with its plans to close the above mentioned magistrates court forthwith."

The building was opened in the early 1960s, after the courts in Church Street were shut down.

Some years ago a scheme to extend and improve the present court buildings at a cost of £3 million was turned down.

No-one from the North and West Greater Manchester Magistrates' Courts Committee was available for comment.