A LEIGH court is under scrutiny in a regional shake-up - and could be closed.

As part of a Court Service review, a survey is monitoring usage of Leigh's County Court in Walmesley Road.

Everyone attending will be questioned to provide information which could influence the Court Service decision after considering the consequences of redirecting them to a court in another town.

But community watchdogs are on guard and threatening to fight any closure threat.

They fear if the Leigh court goes, users would have to travel to Wigan for hearings, incurring loss of time and additional expense.

Council leader Peter Smith said he was concerned about the review taking place.

"We have asked a number of questions of the Court Service because we want to understand what they are looking at in the service; what criteria they may use to decide that a court would close down."

Cllr Smith said the council needed the information to mount a campaign against closure, if the Court Service decided to close the court.

"But we are not allowing them to assume that the court will close," said Cllr Smith.

And Christine Garner, manager of Leigh Citizens' Advice Bureau, said: "We're very concerned that they are thinking about closure. And we certainly do intend to make some contribution to consultations."

The Court survey runs until July 16.

Court Service group manager's office spokesman John Morris said: "Once the survey has been concluded the Group Manager will consider further whether a case for closure should be made.

"If he believes there is a strong case for closing the court, he will prepare a submission seeking the Lord Chancellor's authority to put the proposal out to public consultation.

"This consultation, if approved, will include local solicitors, advice agencies, the local judiciary, local authorities, the local Members of Parliament and the local chambers of commerce.

"Any public consultation will run for two months.

"It is however possible that the Group Manager may decide not to proceed further with the prospective proposal."

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