AN emergency sum of £300,000 looks set to be granted to carry out 'stopgap' measures to ease the problems faced in the overcrowded Bolton Magistrates Court.

The Lord Chancellor's Department is expected to approve the spending, providing Bolton Council finds 20pc of the amount.

However, court officials and local politicians are worried that stopgap money could prejudice their main priority to get a new court building for Bolton.

The emergency cash will be spent on refurbishing the existing court building and addressing the immediate problem of lack of space. It will particularly concentrate on providing witness facilities.

Senior court officials and magistrates had drawn up contingency plans to find temporary premises outside the court building for backroom office staff. They would then move from Le Mans Crescent leaving rooms free for other use.

The urgent action plan was drawn up at a meeting of Magistrates' Courts Committee, following the news that high hopes of Bolton being given cash under the Private Finance Initiative scheme were dashed.

However, details of the emergency scheme have yet to be finalised. Court and council officers have been told to submit them with costings to the Lord Chancellor's office by Friday, after which approval is likely to be given.

Desperately needed new facilities include: Separate witness facilities; security for magistrates who currently are not always kept apart from the public; adequate waiting facilities and seating; confidential areas for solicitors, probation officers and social workers interviewing clients; disabled access; public telephones and catering facilities.

Peter Thurnham, MP for Bolton North-east, said: "There is a desperate need for extra court accommodation, but an overall need for a new court building.

"Although this money will be welcome it is important that it does not prejudice the urgent case for new premises. I do not want any priority to be lost.

"I have written to the Lord Chancellor in an attempt to arrange an urgent meeting with a full delegation from Bolton including representatives from the council. And I will be continuing to keep the pressure on for new buildings."

A report will go to Bolton Council's civic affairs sub committee on Friday giving details of the award.

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