FOR too long Bolton has managed with an inadequate and outdated magistrates court.

The only comfort for those who struggled daily in the antiquated building was that a new court was promised.

Now fears are growing that the Government could drop plans for a new building in Cheadle Square and move trials to less busy courts in the North West. As Council leader Cllr Bob has said, it would be unacceptable to trail Bolton people to Bury or Wigan because we do not have the capacity here.

Bolton needs its own magistrates court and the Government must be made to realise that.

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