BURY Magistrates’ Court and County Court have been earmarked for closure under new government plans.

The courts, both housed at Bury Courthouse in Tenters Street, are among 18 magistrates, county, and family courts across the north west that have been recommended for closure in a consultation published today by Courts Minister Shailesh Vara.

Under the plans, the magistrates’ court’s workload would be transferred to Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court, nine miles away in Manchester city centre.

Cases at Bury County Court - which was previously saved from closure in 2010 - would be moved to Manchester County Court, located within the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

There are 55 members of staff based at Bury Magistrates’ Court and County Court.

A 12-week consultation into the proposals will conclude on October 8.

Since 2011, cases from Rochdale have also been heard at Bury Courthouse after the closure of Rochdale Magistrates' Court.

The report states: "Should Bury Magistrates’ Court and County Court close it will enable the work to be moved to larger venues and allow the receiving courts to be more responsive and flexible with the listing of cases, meeting user and workflow demands more effectively. An improved service will be delivered with courts being used more efficiently."

The report says that in the 2014/15 financial year, Bury Courthouse was utilised at approximately 51% of its capacity.

Mr Vara said: “We are reforming the courts and tribunal service so that it meets the needs of modern day users.

“Access to justice is not just about attending court. As we bring in digital technology for better and more efficient access to justice, fewer people will need to physically be in a court.

“This means that we will need fewer buildings, and with many already underused and in poor quality, now is a good time to review the estate.”

Natalie Ceeney, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service Chief Executive, added: “Our estate is a significant asset. We currently have a number of surplus buildings and this consultation puts forward proposals on their future.

“As we modernise our service so that fewer people will need to attend a court in person, spending money on unsuitable or rarely used buildings is not good value for money for taxpayers.

“I encourage anyone with an interest to respond to the proposals.”

County courts in Altrincham, Bolton, Macclesfield, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside and Warrington, and magistrates' courts in Stockport and Trafford have also been earmarked for closure.