Campaigners are battling to save Kingston Magistrates' Court after it was earmarked for closure in a radical shake-up of courts across the capital.

The Greater London Magistrates' Court Authority (GLMCA) wants to close the four courts under the Guildhall in 2003 and transfer all cases to Wimbledon and Richmond.

But court officials and Kingston's MP have vowed to fight to save the court because they fear closure will undermine the basic principle of justice being administered locally by local magistrates.

It will also be harder for people to get to courts in other boroughs and it may push up council tax.

But the GLMCA has argued that the programme of closures and mergers is necessary to create a unified and accessible system of courts.

It believes Kingston Magistrates' Court, which opened at its current site in the 1930s, lacks sufficient facilities and there is little scope to develop the courthouse.

But the outgoing chairman of Kingston Magistrates Bench, Dr Alan Vincent, and his successor Ian Rathjen, said planning permission had been granted for an extension to the courthouse which could provide secure wings for prisoners and youth court facilities.

And they warned that the loss of rental income Kingston Council receives from the courthouse could have to be met by an increase in council tax.

In a joint statement they said: "Kingston magistrates know the local area, its roads, pubs, clubs and the housing situation.

"This local knowledge is vital to administering an effective system of local justice, and the system will be much poorer if Kingston court is closed."

They also argued that the proposals would lead to increased costs and force all parties to travel greater distances.

Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey is lobbying for the court to stay open. He said: "We are not going to accept this. The GLMCA does not seem to have grasped how magistrates work.

"These proposals undermine the whole legitimacy of the issue of local justice."

The GLMCA said: "Although there will be fewer courthouses, sufficient capacity will be retained to cope with future fluctuations in workload.

"No closures have been recommended unless the new site is within 60 minutes' travelling time by public transport for the majority of people travelling from boroughs the new court serves."

The GLMCA will consult on the proposals in the New Year.

December 28, 2001 16:00