WEST Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison raised the future of Trowbridge's threatened magistrates' court in the House of Commons this week.

As Courts Minister Yvette Cooper considers the future of the court, Dr Murrison used a debate on community services to reiterate the need to keep the court in the town.

He said: "It is a matter of great regret that the government seems intent on moving out magistrates' courts to vast justice factories in larger urban centres.

"That is causing a great deal of concern to local people and is degrading the standard of justice we can dispense locally."

The Wiltshire Magistrates' Court Committee decided in February last year to close the magistrates' courts in Trow-bridge and Devizes, after coming under pressure by the Lord Chancellors Department to cut the number of courts in the county by six. These savings secured a new four-room courthouse in Salisbury, which will cost in the region of £8m, with plans to incorporate magistrates, crown and county courts under one roof.

An appeal against the decision was made by Wiltshire County Council, which is still awaiting an answer.

Campaigners have refused to give up the fight to keep the court open to prevent the need for cases from west Wiltshire being heard in Chippenham.