BOLTON'S three MPs have been asked to pile pressure on the Government to ensure Bolton gets a new court to replace the overcrowded buildings at Le Mans Crescent.

Worried officials and councillors fear the town could still stumble at the final hurdle, despite Government assurances it will be given top priority.

Officials were disappointed to be told that Bolton will NOT be one of two 'guinea pig' towns selected to build the first privately-funded courts.

Kidderminster and Hereford and Worcester will act as "pathfinders" for the previously untested Private Finance Initiative.

The announcement prompted disappointment in Bolton because neither of the other two towns had been as far along the road as Bolton when the brakes were put on public spending. Instead Bolton is among 13 towns, including Salford, invited to put in a bid to be included in the limited number of projects to be fast tracked through the second phase of courts to be funded privately.

But despite this news the council is still concerned the town will be told to transfer cases to neighbouring towns with less capacity.

Council officials praised Peter Thurnham for his efforts and asked the town's three MPs to publicly throw their weight behind the Bolton bid and put further pressure on the Lord Chancellor not to abandon the local scheme.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Bob Howarth said: "If we sit back and leave it as it is we could be sidelined and lose our magistrates court.

"That would not be good for the people of this borough."

At the invitation of Mr Thurnham, Justices Minister Gary Streeter will visit Bolton at the end of next month to see conditions for himself.

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