LOCAL magistrates have been joined by Fylde MP Michael Jack in a bid to save Lytham court from being closed down.

Magistrates received a letter this week informing them of plans proposed by Lancashire Magistrates' Courts Committee to close Lytham Court by 1999 and to amalgamate it with Blackpool.

As a result of such a change, people in Fylde would have to travel to Blackpool to appear in court for family and youth hearings, licensing, betting and gaming matters and criminal proceedings.

Magistrates felt the proposals would adversely affect everyone in Fylde and so decided to launch a campaign to save the court.

They believe it is better for justice to be administered locally by people who live in Fylde and are appealing for people who believe Lytham Court should not be closed to write to Lancashire Magistrate's Court Committee.

At present the plans are merely being proposed and have not been passed as the committee is holding a public consultation period before progressing further.

Chairman of Lytham magistrates Ray Bracegirdle said: "We feel very strongly about this. It is a case of another service moving from Lytham St Annes to Blackpool.

"This will not just affect criminals but hotel owners, families and young people who will all need to travel to Blackpool to appear in court for everyday things like licensing applications.

"This is supposed to be a cost-cutting exercise probably to finance the increased amount of paperwork and documents courts have to produce these days.

"But nobody has actually considered the costs to the public in terms of the extra travelling costs. In a day and age when we are being told about the environmental impact of too many cars on the roads, it doesn't seem to make much sense."

MP Michael Jack said: "The magistrates court is the fundamental basis for justice in the United Kingdom. This government talks about local justice for local people but if Lytham court the is closed the very opposite will happen."

At the time of going to press, chief executive of Lancashire Courts Committee, Idris Moorby was unavailable for comment on the matter.

Write to The Chairman of the Magistrates Court Committee, PO Box 717, Weind House, Park Hill Road, Garstang, PR3 1EX before November 18 to put your views forward.

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