CLOSING magistrates' courts in West Devon will cost the country money rather than save cash, says West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett.

His comments followed a letter from Jane Kennedy, the Lord Chancellor's Minister in the Commons.

Devon and Cornwall Magistrates' Courts Committee has warned that Tavistock and Okehampton are among 13 threatened with closure due to Government cuts in its

funding.

In a written reply to Mr Burnett, Jane Kennedy said the policy was designed to ensure value for money and stated that improvements in efficiency did not mean cuts in funding. She said funding was actually up more than 5.25 per cent.

Mr Burnett said: 'I agree we want value for money and that is very correct, but the problem with these proposals is that they will cost money.

'Are ministers aware that in large parts of Devon and Cornwall there is little or no public transport? If you close magistrates' courts it will be extremely difficult for people to get to those remaining.

'And even if her department saves a small amount of money, there will be significant extra costs for the police, the probation service, the magistrates themselves, social services and the legal aid board with the extra travelling.

'In addition, it will take ten years of the proposed savings to even pay for the unnecessary redundancies.

'The point is — far from giving value for money, these proposals will cost more money, so not only will the courts be less accessible to the public, these closures will actually be more expensive.'

Magistrates' court committee chairman John Maunder said: 'We have to run a business within a budget, we have costs to face and those are going to be funded by lesser amounts,' he said.

'We are very mindful of people travelling to courts. The committee is made up of magistrates and our attitude to local justice and closing courts is no different to anyone else's. We have huge sympathy for court users but we still have to work within budget.

Mr Maunder said the decision to close the courts had not yet been made.

'There is some manoeuvrability. When the committee studies all the submissions I hope we would feel able to modify the proposals to some extent — not to would make a mockery of the consultation process,' he said. 'But this is what we will have to do if the three per cent cuts remain in place.'

Mr Burnett aims to see the minister and the court committee again as soon as possible. 'Let's please think again,' he said.