BOLTON MP David Crausby has welcomed reassurances from government ministers saying there are no plans to close the town’s magistrates court.

But he also urged vigilance over the prospect in light of further government cuts.

The Bolton News revealed in June how secret documents produced by the Manchester Orbital Branch (MOB) of the Magistrates’ Association said it would “not oppose” the court’s closure and branded it “not fit for purpose”.

We launched the Keep our Court campaign with an online petition picking up more than 100 signatures so far.

The campaign also won the backing of politicians including Bolton’s three MPs and the Greater Manchester Crime Commissioner, as well as legal experts.

The MPs wrote a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Justice asking for assurances over its future.

And a reply from Under Secretary of State Helen Grant said there were no plans for court closures other than the list of 142 announced in 2010, a list which Bolton was not on.

But it added that HM Courts and Tribunals Service was “free to review its estate” in order to meet “funding challenges”, and that any closure program would be subject to public consultation.

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East, said: “I am pleased with the initial response and I’m confident that local residents will be reassured to know that a closure is not planned.

“However, we must remain vigilant and keep up the campaign to protect our magistrates court.

“A town the size of Bolton deserves local access to justice and we must be willing to protect this in the face of whatever financial challenge the government may put before the courts service in the coming years.”

Sign our online petition to save Bolton Magistrates Court here.