BOLTON Town Hall could house the county and family courts if planned closures go ahead, according to council leader Cliff Morris.

A consultation on proposals to move the family and county courts – currently located at Bolton Crown Court – to the civil justice centre in Manchester ended yesterday.

The Ministry of Justice said that it will consider responses submitted and announce the final decision early next year.

As part of the plans, the closure of the family and county courts will make space in the crown court building to relocate Bolton Magistrates Court there.

But Bolton Law Society has objected to the plans and has held crisis meetings with the town's three MPs and Cllr Morris.

He has suggested to the society that if the plans go ahead, that the town hall could be used as an alternative venue to ensure the Bolton's courts remain in the town.

The society says that justice may be denied to some of the poorest and vulnerable people if they are forced to travel to Manchester, with added travel costs and inconvenience.

Ansar Hussain, president of Bolton Law Society, said: "What we are saying is that we realise the magistrates has to move to the crown court building, but they should look at housing the magistrates court, crown court and county court in the same building.

"If that is not possible, then they should look at providing alternative premises within Bolton itself. As such, the town hall may be available, which would be a better alternative. This will affect some of the most vulnerable people in Bolton."

Cllr Morris said the town hall's council chamber could be used for hearings, and that other rooms could be available.

But Cllr Morris said he hoped that the town hall plan will not be needed, and that the planned changes do not materialise.

He said: "We are very concerned about the changes that are being made to the family and county courts.

"Rather than force people to go to Manchester, which we think is wrong, we have rooms in the town hall and we have the council chamber which could use used. It is ridiculous to expect all these people to have to traipse over to Manchester, people who are often the most vulnerable."

Bolton's county court is one of eight in Greater Manchester dealing with civil and some family proceedings, but the Ministry of Justice says it is not well used, that it costs £660,000 a year to run and last year only operated at 49 percent of its capacity.

In addition, under the North West wide scheme Bury is set to lose its magistrates court, with defendants and witnesses having to travel to Manchester Magistrates Court in future.