REDUCING the number of court buildings in Wiltshire could cause inconvenience and extra cost to local people, county councillors claim.

Members of Wiltshire County Council's policy and resources committee were asked for their views about an ongoing feasibility study of magistrates' courts.

The Government plans to cut the number of Wiltshire's magistrates courtrooms from 18 to 14 or 12, despite the recent closure of one of Swindon's five courts.

The body charged with making the cost-saving cuts, Wiltshire Magistrates Courts Committee (WMCC), is currently surveying court users.

They are then asking local councils where in the county they think the axe should fall.

The decision on whether to close more of Swindon's courts is expected in November.

Currently Wiltshire has 18 courtrooms.

They are in Chippenham, Devizes, Salisbury, Swindon and Trowbridge.

Plans to reduce the number of courtrooms are based on an expected annual use of 1,000 hours per courtroom.

Members of the policy and resources committee recognised the reasons for the courtroom review.

But they unanimously urged the retention of the county's five courthouses and said the number of courtrooms should be reduced within them.

The committee agreed other rural authorities should be contacted to check what the court use is in other similar and neigh-bouring counties.

"We must ensure local access to justice," said Leader of the Council Peter Chalke.