BOLTON Magistrates Court is overcrowded and outdated and should have been replaced years ago.

The fact that it is run with efficiency is a tribute to its officials and magistrates.

But the news that there is going to be a wait of at least three years before work is started on a new building is appalling.

The BEN demands to know on bahalf of the people of Bolton why this should be. We've waited long enough.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.