COURT closers thought of moving Bolton Magistrates to Leigh shortly before condemning Leigh Court to death row!

That startling revelation comes in the wake of Manchester Magistrates' Courts Committee decision to axe Leigh and transfer business to Wigan.

And sources say the MCC considered spending money on doing-up Leigh as a temporary court while Bolton Court is refurbished.

Campaigners against Leigh's closure are disturbed by the reports especially as the MCC hotly deny Leigh's closure had been pre-determined.

Dennis Dunn, chairman of the Leigh bench, told The Journal: "They claim to have been 'open and honest' throughout.z "However it has been reported that the MCC may have considered a document proposing the temporary relocation of the Bolton Magistrates' Court to Leigh.

"Once the Leigh Court had been moved to Wigan the vacated premises would be improved with capital expenditure to house Bolton for up to two years.

"Shockingly the MCC might have debated this at the meeting re-convened to consider Leigh's closure, immediately before they took their decision!"

Now campaigners are calling for further investigation in to the suggestions which it is felt could have affected the closure vote.

And alleged flaws in the MCC's case for closure have been highlighted. They argue strongly against claims that Leigh has efficiency and security problems and say Leigh's facilities are better than some and equal to most other courts in the area.

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