Civil court move sparks opposition

COUNCILLORS will be urged to oppose the plans to move civil court cases from Oldham to Manchester at their annual meeting tomorrow.

If the motion is passed by Oldham Council, the three local MPs will also be called on to oppose the plans.

Councillors Brian Lord and Jackie Stanton are acting after Oldham Law Association protested about the proposals, which could mean more people from Oldham and Rochdale having to travel to Manchester for a civil trial or hearing.

The Court Service has plans to stop circuit judges travelling to Oldham, and to move some civil trials to Manchester.

But opponents, including Oldham East and Saddleworth Labour MP Phil Woolas, say this breaches undertakings given when the new Oldham County Court opened in 1997.

Mr Woolas said the new building was intended to serve both Oldham and Rochdale after the closure of Rochdale County Court.

The motion calls on council chief executive Charlie Parker to pass the council’s views to the Court Service, the three MPs, the new Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke, and calls for a full consultation on the plans.