CAMPAIGNERS say new figures released in a Parliamentary answer have cast more doubt on plans to close Gravesend's County Court.

The proposed closure could see cases sent to Dartford County Court which is already under pressure.

The figures, released to the town's MP Adam Holloway, reveal the court made an operating profit last year of £180,000.

Stephen Savage, Kent director of Her Majesty's Court Service, who closed Gravesend's Magistrates' Court, is now proposing to close the county court because he claims it is uneconomic to keep it open.

But further Parliamentary questions due to be asked by Mr Holloway, are expected to prove use of the Grade II Listed court in King Street, is increasing for certain cases and waiting times compare favourably with other courts.

Geoff Lyas, from the Public and Commercial Services Union, described the closure of a court which is making money and offering a good service as "ridiculous".

Mr Lyas dismissed claims £300,000 of repair work was needed on the building and says the true cost was a fraction of the figure.

And he questioned why none of the court's income had been spent on maintenance work.

Mr Lyas also said it made no financial sense to sell a building worth more than £400,000, when it makes more than this in profit in just three years.

And he questioned whether many people who currently used the Gravesend court to pay off their debts, would travel to Dartford to make their payments.

Mr Lyas told News Shopper: "Gravesend County Court is doing all the right things and getting punished for it."

Both he and Mr Holloway are now calling for the November 30 deadline for consultations on the closure to be extended by at least two months, to take account of the new information.

News Shopper asked Mr Savage a number of questions about the details contained in the consultation document.

It also asked whether he would consider issuing a new consultation document or extending the consultation period.

His office was not able to respond before the paper went to press.

Copies of the consultation document are available from the court, which is open on weekdays from 10am to 4pm.