THE government has refuted speculation that plans for a modern combined court in Salisbury have been put on hold, amid fears that the project has become too expensive.

A court complex housing magistrates', crown, county and coroner's courts was supposed to open on Wilton Road in 2006 - but, said Salisbury MP Robert Key, a frustrating lack of progress has been made.

He is worried that problems with funding and doubts raised by senior judges have caused the project to falter.

The department of constitutional affairs, however, insists the scheme is still on schedule.

The estimated cost of the complex has spiralled to £14m, after initial predictions in 2003 put the figure at £8-10m.

The project has reportedly been called before the Treasury, while a spending review is carried out.

Mr Key said he was seeking clarification from ministers about the future of the building, which would be one of the first in the country where all the courts were housed under one roof.

"Clearly, there has been a glitch," he said.

"The Treasury is saying it will be too much money and others are asking why we need a court like this in Salisbury, when there is one in Winchester.

"I have been campaigning for new courts for many years.

"Because of health and safety considerations, Salisbury magistrates' court is not suitable for certain types of cases.

"It appears that they have half a plan - we have lost magistrates' courts at Tisbury and Trowbridge, and if we do not get the new courts, the government will have failed in the administration of local justice.

"The whole thing is a muddle.

"I shall be seeking reassurance and clarification."

On April 1, the Wiltshire magistrates' court committee was disbanded and control of all courts moved to Her Majesty's Court Service.

The service comes under the remit of the department for constitutional affairs, and court boards have been established to scrutinise, review and make recommendations about how courts are run.

A spokeswoman for the department of constitutional affairs, formerly the Lord Chancellor's department, said Salisbury's new courts were "on schedule".

"The courts are still in the pipeline," she said.

"We are at an advanced planning stage and planning permission needs to be sought.

"The project is still going ahead."

But the complex is already likely to be more than a year late.

Planners initially hoped the building would be ready in 2006 and wanted work to start in October 2004 but a Salisbury district council spokeswoman said this week that the council expected the magistrates' court to be occupying rooms in the Guildhall until 2007.

Consideration is being given to the future use of the premises currently used by the different courts dotted around the city, including the Guildhall and the existing Crown Court in St John Street.

Artists' impressions of the new courts in the car park opposite the entrance to the Old Manor hospital show lots of glass, energy-efficiency features, a secure custody suite and meeting facilities, in addition to the courtrooms.