MONEY - all £37,000 a year of it - is the only reason behind moves to close Leigh Magistrates Court.

Legal trio Michael Heyman, Michael Caplin and Karen Baker , partners in the Leigh firm of solicitors Heyman and Co., believe the court closure issue is already cut and dried.

With 27 years in town, always undertaking criminal work, Heyman and Co. have a sound knowledge of local needs with regard to magistrates court services.

They say a decision has already been taken to close Leigh Magistrates Court and that it will close no matter what responses a consultation document brings.

But in a letter circulated to The Journal, magistrates, clerks, the Citizens Advice Bureau and fellow lawyers, they say their decision to take part in consultations is to explain how, in their view, the closure of the court would be "a catastrophe for the town and the vulnerable people which it is meant to serve".

Figures show Leigh, along with Bolton and Oldham, are the only courts in the area which have the correct capacity.

The partners' letter states: "Leigh has three courtrooms and needs three. Bury has eight and needs five.

"Leigh falls short of the required 1,000 hours per courtroom by the massive sum of 128 hours. Salford falls short by 2,508 hours, almost the entire number of hours that Leigh Magistrates Court sits!"

And reference to Leigh having limited provision for the disabled is queried.

They ask what additional provision is required and note how Leigh is all on one level with ramps outside, plus disabled toilets, a waist height telephone and no steps inside.

"Of course it would be a massive improvement to the disabled to have to take a bus journey lasting one hour to avail themselves to the remarkably better facilities at Wigan.

"Wigan is on three floors with no ground floor court facilities. There are no parking facilities adjacent to the building (there are at Leigh) and there is, to our knowledge, one lift.

"If it breaks are the ushers going to carry the disabled upstairs?"

They say Leigh has a good security track record and do not recall any incident in the last 27 years when a member of court staff, a magistrate or solicitor has been attacked or put at risk.

Last week a Group 4 security officer was slashed with a home-made knife at Wigan Magistrates' Court by a prisoner.

And having no refreshment facilities at Leigh Court is explicable - outside contractors found the competition too much with a plethora of food shops directly opposite the court. The partners refute review findings that travelling to Wigan is simple.

"There are only two routes from Leigh through Hindley and Platt Bridge. Both are heavily congested and by car the trip takes 30 minutes, on public transport it is an hour. The disabled will clearly welcome this.

"Those required to attend court on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (and there are a large number who attend Leigh Magistrates Court who are on such benefits) will welcome the extra expenditure on travel.

"Why buy clothing or eat when you can spend money on bus fares? A significant number of those accused of criminal activity may be acquitted. How do they recover the extra travelling expenses incurred?"

They also wonder where will cases be heard when Leigh court closes and extra work cannot be accommodated at Wigan.

Concluding they say: "The partners of this firm along with all persons they have consulted - other solicitors, ushers and business people are in no doubt a decision has already been made.

"We think it is short sighted based on short termism, allows for no increase in business, is based upon purported and illusory improved facilities for the public and in particular for the disabled where these do not exist.

"Its goal is one thing and one thing alone, saving money whatever the inconvenience to the public, the disabled and the citizens of a town which has a distinct and different identity entirely from Wigan.

"It is believed closure will mean the savings of £37,000 per annum. How will this massive saving be spent to greater effect?"

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