BOLTON'S new multi-million pound magistrates court building has hit an 11th hour stumbling block. Shocked court chiefs have been told by the Lord Chancellor's office that the scheme has been put on hold because of a Government block on public spending. And a leading Labour councillor fears that it could be held up to fund tax cuts in the run-up to the General Election.

Work was due to start at the end of the month with the 12-courtroom building at Cheadle Square due to open at the end of 1997. Now court chiefs face a nail-biting few weeks until they hear which major building projects across the country can go ahead. Mr Peter Dawson, clerk to the justices, said: "It is very frustrating. We had selected a contractor and we were ready to start on October 31.

"We wrote to the Lord Chancellor's department expecting him to confirm the starting date and we received a letter back saying that he could not do this because of the review on public spending. It is a high priority scheme and we are cautiously optimistic that it is just a delay.

"We have had assurances that we will be told as soon as a decision is made which we expect to be later this month."

Labour Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, a member of the council's policy committee which has been involved in the scheme, said: "This is typical of this Government to cut capital schemes like this to finance tax cuts.

"This is a scheme which we have been committed to for many years and it is absolutely necessary."

The development, which is expected to cost between £7 million and £8 million, will be funded 80pc by the taxpayer and 20pc by Bolton Council chiefs who are handing over land as part of their contribution.

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