WEST Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett is urging the Government to 'come clean' about proposed magistrates' court closures at Tavistock and Okehampton.

And the MP says he will challenge ministers to come to West Devon and see the situation for themselves.

Mr Burnett is leading a delegation of seven MPs and senior magistrates from West Devon and Torridge who will meet Jane Kennedy, minister in the Lord Chancellor's office today (Thursday).

Mr Burnett said he was 'very concerned' about a lack of communication from the minister.

'During the debate on the magistrates' courts, I asked her to provide me with a letter setting out anticipated government expenditure on Devon and Cornwall magistrates' courts over the next three years, because at that stage I'd had the hint the Government weren't actually playing fair.

'I still have not received that letter,' said Mr Burnett. He added that the minister told him spending on courts was not due to be cut and might even be 'slightly increased'.

'I have now received information that the Lord Chancellor's department has demanded significant annual cuts — it would have been helpful to have known that before,' he said.

'I shall be asking her to come clean — this is not what she told me and I shall be seeking an explanation.'

Mr Burnett doubted whether closing Tavistock and Okehampton magistrates' courts would actually save any money, and he said sending West Devon's cases to Plymouth, Barnstaple or Exeter would mean a huge build-up of sessions.

'Plymouth Magistrates' Court is chock-a-block anyway, Tavistock is taking their overflow. If the cases can't be done at Plymouth where on earth do they propose to do them?

'The minister said to me that it's crucial for justice to be done locally — what does she call local?' asked Mr Burnett.

He said as far as the Okehampton court was concerned, proposals to send its cases to Barnstaple or Exeter were 'ludicrous'.

'Just try driving that road to Barnstaple, it's 35 miles on an appalling road with virtually no public transport.

'These proposals are deeply flawed to anyone that knows this area — they just have no idea,' he said.

Peter Hill, chairman of the West Devon bench, will join today's delegation.

Mr Hill said it was 'good news' that Mr Burnett had been able to arrange the meeting.

'If I can, I shall be pointing out distances, expense and time involved for members of the public to have their cases heard with the closure of these two courts,' he said.

'It would be interesting to take her for a ride around rural Devon, get away from the A30 and see what it would be like to drive from Dartmeet, Highampton or Bratton Clovelly for a morning court — these are the things they need to be told about.'

Mr Hill said West Devon would be 'really hit' if both its courts were closed.

'It's this sparsity factor once again. I know you can't afford courts all over the place but certainly I think a case should be made for Okehampton,' he said.

Devon and Cornwall magistrates' courts committee announced in January that some of the two county's 25 courts would have to be axed — the consultation process will last until April 7.