COUNCIL chiefs are calling on Bolton's three MPs to back their fight to save the town's new magistrates court building. The shock news that the £8 million scheme has been put on hold because of a Government block on public spending has left town hall chiefs fuming. Now they are determined that if any scheme in the country is eventually allowed to go ahead - it is Bolton's.

They are going to write to the MPs in a bid to persuade the Government that the development is a top priority.

Angry Labour councillors launched a blistering attack on the decision at a meeting of the management and finance committee yesterday.

It was also revealed that a letter was received from Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay offering to lay the foundation stone in March, while another department had written saying the scheme was on hold.

Labour Cllr Michael Kilcoyne hit out: "This is just shows how incompetent the organisation has been.

"This scheme was due to start at the end of the month and it should have already been in a rolling programme of expenditure. This Government couldn't run a toffee shop, never mind the country."

Cllr Bob Howarth, Labour council leader, described the news as "a great disappointment."

Deputy leader Cllr Guy Harkin said conditions in the present court building on Le Mans Crescent as "intolerable."

"There is an overwhelming need for this building," he said.

It isn't a luxury, it is a necessity."

But Tory deputy leader Cllr Derek Shepherd accused Labour councillors of "talking as though you are already defeated.

"This may be just a delay and it may only be a matter of a few weeks before we are given authorisation."

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