Court not closing

THE Magistrates Association has rubbished claims that Oldham Magistrates Court is set to close.

Reports on Radio Manchester suggested that the court would close with cases moved to Tameside. A story also appeared in the Bolton News backing this up as part of a cost-cutting mission.

But a spokesman for the Magistrates Association said: “There is no truth whatsoever in that suggestion.”

The claims came from a report by the Magistrates Association’s Manchester branch which was asked to consider which courts “might be considered for closure”. Members said they would not oppose the closure of Bolton, Stockport and Oldham courts which were all “lacking in facilities”.