KENDAL Magistrates’ Court and County Court is to close, the Ministry of Justice has announced today.

The Burneside Road building was one of 91 proposed to be closed as part of cost-cutting measures.

Today, the MoJ said five of those will not shut but that 22 will still close - with changes to the initial plan.

It is likely to be shut by June.

The news is a blow to the Westmorland Gazette's 'Keep Justice Local' campaign which collected more than 300 coupons opposing the closure.

Initially it had been proposed that all cases would be transferred to Barrow - but now some of the criminal work will instead move to Lancaster Magistrates' Court.

The remainder of the magistrates’ work, and the civil and family work, will move to Barrow.

The court will close once 'suitable local alternative provision' is established.

However, the HM Courts & Tribunals Service said it will work with South Lakeland District Council to explore further options for alternative local access to justice and added that announcements will be made as and when any firm proposals are identified.

This could include using the council chamber in Kendal Town Hall, which has been used recently due to flood damage to the court.

The operating costs for Kendal Magistrates’ Court and County Court for 2014-15 were approximately £244,000.

The current utilisation rate of Kendal Magistrates’ Court and County Court is very low at approximately per cent, said HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

West Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Workington is one of the five to be saved.