THE building of a multi-million pound courthouse is considered by Bolton's council chiefs to be the only option to replace the ageing court building in Le Mans Crescent.

Planners are now scouring the town looking for possible alternative sites for a new court building.

Council chiefs want to retain ownership of the existing court building but no firm plans have been established for its future use.

A shake-up in the management of the courts system would have led to Bolton Council losing ownership of the building -- considered by many to be one of Bolton's finest landmarks in the town centre -- if the magistrates courts remained housed inside.

Council bosses, who still have to make a decision on whether to refurbish the Grade Two listed building and retain the courts, now believe that a new courthouse must be built.

The move would leave them with a dilemma of what to do with the building if it is left vacant.

Proposals have been put forward to transform the court rooms into a cultural quarter by extending the museum and library, but councillors believe this option may prove too costly.

Officials are looking for alternative sites in the town centre although a preferred base has already been identified next to the crescent on Cheadle Square. The move has been sparked by Government's plans to revamp the Courts service and transfer ownership of court buildings -- currently provided by councils -- to a new agency.

Cllr Bob Howarth, leader of Bolton Council, admitted the plans had caused the local authority a dilemma.

He said: "The Le Mans Crescent building as a whole is one of the finest civic buildings in the North West if not the country.

"We want to avoid a situation where the building is confiscated from us and we are unable to have a say in its future uses."

In Bolton, the situation is further exacerbated because, unlike most court buildings, which are self-contained, the building in Le Mans Crescent is also used as a museum, library and also the headquarters of Bolton Police, although a new police station will be built on the outskirts of the town centre in the near future.

The Lord Chancellor's Department is also insisting that two new courtrooms capable of holding Crown Court sessions should be housed in any new Bolton magistrates court building.

This could not have been accommodated at the Le Mans Crescent courtroom even when the police have vacated their section of the building.

The move has forced Council bosses to rethink their position after earlier stating that they would only consider allowing the courts to be moved if an acceptable alternative use could be found for the crescent.

Cllr Bob Howarth, leader of Bolton Council, admitted the plans had caused the local authority a dilemma.

He said: "The Le Mans Crescent building as a whole is one of the finest civic buildings in the North West if not the country.

"We want to avoid a situation where the building is confiscated from us and we are unable to have a say in its future uses.

"On the other hand, my main concern is that we are left with a white elephant. We cannot allow the building to become derelict and neither do we want to see it transformed into a bar or used for other leisure purposes."

Cllr Barbara Ronson, leader of the Liberal Democrats group, said it was vital the council kept control of the Crescent.

"It is a vital part of civic pride in Bolton and if holding on to it means the magistrates have to go then so be it," she said.

"I believe if the finances can be found, a cultural quarter which would become a focus for arts in the borough would be the perfect solution to this problem."