THE APPEAL against the government's decision to close Tavistock and Okehampton magistrates' courts has begun in London.

While Okehampton court looks likely to be saved for the foreseeable future, the prospect for the Tavistock court is still uncertain.

Devon County Council, supported by other local authorities, MPs and magistrates, has appealed against the decision of the Lord Chancellor's Department to close the courts in order to save money.

Last week the LCD began the appeal hearing, consisting of a series of meetings with councillors, MPs and others who are opposing the closure.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett met Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine on Tuesday and said afterwards that he understood Okehampton was off the list for closure, but the case for retaining Tavistock was still being argued. He is also to meet LCD Minister Jane Kennedy.

A spokeswoman for the department said meetings would continue for at least a couple of weeks. The court could not be closed until the appeal was resolved, she added. The intention was to close the court at the end of the year. A decision on the appeal is expected during December.

Tavistock court costs only around £7,000 a year to run, but the LCD and Devon and Cornwall Magistrates' Committee have argued that it would cost a lot to modernise to bring it up to the required standard and this might not be possible, as it is a listed building. Access for disabled people is a particular concern.

However, protesters responded that the cost of users — magistrates, clerks, ushers, police, defendants, witnesses, probation officers — making a round trip of more than 30 miles to Plymouth would be far greater than the cost of modernisation.

The campaign to keep it open has been joined by politicians and councillors from all parties.

Mr Burnett said: 'people can't afford to get to the courts on time. Plymouth is the worst place for the courts, because of the appalling traffic. There is little or no public transport. It is important that justice be done locally.'

County councillor Roy Cook said the closure of Tavistock, coupled with that of several other regional courts, would leave 'a big hole' between Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple and Bodmin.

'It is depriving citizens of their rights by making it impossible to get to the courts,' he said. 'We should take it to the European Court of Human Rights.'

l If Tavistock court does close, it will create a problem for the police authority which owns it: what to do with a listed Victorian building in a prime site in the centre of town. That is likely to generate further controversy.