KESWICK magistrates' court is to closenext April.

The decision to close the court-house and those inWindermere, Appleby and Wigton, was taken this week by the CumbriaMagistrates' Courts Committee.

Members voted by six votes to one toshut the Keswick building and switch business to Workington court-house,in a bid to reduce delays, ensure good provision for witnesses and betterdisabled access.

One Keswick usher's job is at risk as a result ofthe closures.

With six members, the Keswick bench is the smallest inCumbria and it conducted 211 hours of business in 1998, or an average offour hours and 20 minutes per sitting day. The court uses only 21.1 percent of its capacity.

Under the changes, the former West Allerdaleand Keswick benches will form a new bench of that name, and the Carlisleand Wigton benches become Carlisle and District.

The Kendal andLonsdale and South Lakes benches will combine as a new South Lakelandbench, and the Penrith and Alston and Appleby benches will become the Edenbench.

Justices' chief executive Simon Evans said: "Local justicecan and will be maintained under the changed arrangements."

He saidthey would work for magistrates to continue to be drawn from a widearea.

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