ST HELENS Magistrates' Court will close but the County Court will remain open the Ministry of Justice has said following months of uncertainty.

It was announced last July that the building on Corporation Street was among 91 courts and tribunals across England and Wales earmarked for closure in a bid to reduce "surplus capacity" according to Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

Despite objections being raised by the town's MPs Marie Rimmer and Conor McGinn, solicitors firms and unions, Gove decided that the workload will move to Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court located in the Crown Court in the city centre.

St Helens County Court, which is part of the existing building, will also take the workload of Warrington County Court. Tribunals from Warrington and Runcorn will also be held in St Helens.

In a document issued by the Ministry of Justice it dismissed concerns raised by Haygarth Jones Solicitors that victims and defendants or parties involved in court cases may have to share the same public transport. 

They said: "Whilst HM Courts & Tribunals Service acknowledge and accept that some people will need to travel further to reach their nearest court and for some the journey, if made by public transport, may be over an hour, we are mindful of the infrequency with which people need to attend court.

"The possibility of all parties to a case travelling to court by the same form of public transport is one that exists at present. If a party to a case is concerned for their safety, the court may consider applications to be represented at court other than by personal attendance. However, we consider the options for travel and the frequency of public transport services between St Helens and Liverpool is likely to reduce the impact of parties travelling to court by the same form of public transport."

They added: "HM Courts & Tribunals Service considered the proposal to retain St Helens Magistrates’ Court and County Court and move Warrington County Court workload to St Helens. However, there is insufficient capacity to accommodate the magistrates’ court work in addition to the workload of St Helens County Court, Warrington County Court and Tribunals."

In a bid to counter the point that almost £2m was spent refurbishing the court building in 2012, the Ministry of Justice said the decision to retain St Helens County Court enabled the release of other buildings in Warrington and Runcorn.

A period of consultation will take place between unions over the next few months.

Council leader Barrie Grunewald condemned the closure adding: "St Helens Council objected to the proposals during the consultation period and after the announcement was made – as part of the Courts and Tribunals Service Estate Reform programme - Councillor Grunewald warned that ‘justice would suffer’ as a result of the closure.

“How can we expect defendants, witnesses and victims of crime to make far longer journeys into Liverpool to ensure that justice is done?

“The government claims most people will be within an hour’s drive of their nearest court. But for many people that simply isn’t an option as they don’t have access to a car.

“Justice will suffer as a result of this short-sighted attempt to save money which, in the long term, could have costly repercussions for our communities.”

 Grunewald said he welcomed the decision to retain St Helens County Court, which will receive extra work from Warrington, but insisted that a Magistrates Court was ‘vital’ for the borough.

Meanwhile, Marie Rimmer MP said: “I am deeply disappointed in the announcement by the Ministry of Justice that St Helens Magistrates' Court will close.

"This news is a blow to local access to justice for victims and witnesses of crime as well as to the hardworking Magistrates and court staff.

“However, I welcome the news that the County Court and the Courthouse are to remain open and also that County Court work from Warrington will be moving to St Helens.

“I have been working with legal professionals in recent months as part of their campaign to save the courts. Following this announcement, I will be calling for an urgent debate in Parliament about the impact of the planned closures.

“Access to justice and maximum utilisation of the modern facility continue to be my priority and I will work with Ministers, HM Courts and Tribunal Services and local legal professional to ensure the courthouse secures a viable future.”