FUTURE plans for Trowbridge Magistrates' Court took a twist this week with the news that a proposed £1 takeover bid has been shelved.

Trowbridge Town Council has backed away from plans to take over the court for the nominal £1 fee because of fears over high running costs and unrelenting repair work.

At an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday councillors agreed the council wanted a presence in the former town hall but poured cold water on plans to takeover the building as a whole.

Wiltshire County Council has funded a feasibility study into the historic building with consultants Stridereglown, from Bristol taking on the role. A detailed report is due at the end of this month.

Town clerk Doug Ross said the town council would reconsider its position in the aftermath of the report but needed to be practical about the options open.

"Obviously the town council wants to be involved but it is not in a position where we would like to own the town hall," he said.

"We would certainly like a presence there but the extent depends on the findings of the report.

"The problem is it is a listed building. There will be restrictions on what can be done to it and it will be an expensive building to upkeep."

County councillor Jeff Osborn said the hall should be transformed into a one-stop shop.

He said: "We should be sharing it with the district and county councils, the housing society, the police and maybe the health trust."

Meanwhile a £50,000 fighting fund for a judicial review into the Lord Chancellor's decision to close the court has been given a much-needed boost, with news Bradford on Avon Town Council has pledged £2,000 towards the fight at a meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Minna Gillham said: "Unfortunately most of the people who visit the court in Trowbridge are in lower income groups and there is no way they will be able to afford to travel to Chippenham."

Ardent campaigner Angela Milroy said she planned to lobby for the installation of mobile units to act as courtrooms in Trowbridge following an idea being launched in Devizes.