MARIE Rimmer MP says maintenance costs of previously closed courthouses demonstrate that plans to shut the St Helens Magistrates' "wouldn't add up".

Referring to the St Helens court as "one of the most efficient" of the 91 earmarked for closure by the Ministry of Justice, Ms Rimmer says axing it would "add to wastage" with costs of maintaining former courts believed to be around £500,000 a year.

Previously closed courts in England and Wales are believed to cost the taxpayer at least £40,000 per month to secure and maintain.

Information obtained recently by a Parliamentary question shows that the Ministry of Justice has yet to dispose of 15 closed courts from a previous reform programme and a Parliamentary Question by Shadow Justice Minister, Andy Slaughter MP has revealed the cost of maintaining 12 of the 15 courts is at almost £500,000 per year.

The St Helens South and Whiston MP said: “These figures show why the planned closure of St Helens Courthouse just wouldn’t add up.

"With previously closed buildings lying dormant costing thousands to secure, it is likely that St Helens Courthouse would simply add to this wastage if closed.

“It is a modern facility that has only recently gone through a £1.7m refurbishment. The courthouse contains a number of purpose built reinforced holding cells in the basement that renders the site almost unusable for any other purpose, leaving it with no commercial value."

Ms Rimmer added: “It is one of the most efficient of the 91 courthouses being consulted upon and the building is one of the most modern in the country.”

The proposed closure has been met with fierce criticism, with solicitors in the town and St Helens North MP Conor McGinn also voicing their strong opposition.

Justice secretary Michael Gove said the plans to axe the courts would be to "reduce surplus capacity" with parliamentary under-secretary of state for courts and legal aid, Shailesh Vara, referring to the service's estate as "underused" and costing the taxpayer about £500m a year.

An announcement on the fate of 91 courts and tribunals across England and Wales, including the St Helens Courthouse, is expected within weeks.