The Ministry of Justice has announced plans to close Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court.
The UK Government department said the cost of repairing the building on Mountain Road would be too great, given its poor condition.
Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court is also facing closure for similar reasons.
The MoJ said an estimated £1.4 million was needed to bring both buildings up to scratch.
Court One at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court had to be shut for repairs in June this year after a section of the ceiling collapsed.
If the closure happened, it would mean no magistrates’ court in Caerphilly County Borough. Bargoed, Pontlottyn and Blackwood all previously had courts.
The work of Caerphilly court, which was purpose built in 1960, and Abergavenny would be transferred to courts in Cwmbran and Newport.
Closing Caerphilly would save £50,000 a year in running costs while shutting Abergavenny would save £30,000.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David hit out at the plans and said he would be making strong representations to prevent Caerphilly’s closure.
He said: “I am very concerned really about the contraction of the judicial service.
“Unfortunately the closure of Caerphilly is one example of that.
“We are seeing a reduction of legal aid for ordinary people, creating a real hardship for people to access justice.”
A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: “HM Courts and Tribunals Service is consulting locally on proposals to close Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court and Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court. Both courts are underused and require significant expenditure on refurbishment.
“The fall in criminal business across Gwent means that maintaining magistrates’ court sittings in four separate locations across the area does not represent the best use of the estate or taxpayers’ money.
“HM Courts and Tribunals Service is committed to running an efficient and effective service which provides value for money.”
There are no administrative staff permanently based at either court with a separate administrative centre based at Newport Crown Court.
In the Gwent area, trials are listed for the first available suitable court date in any of the courthouses with many Caerphilly cases already being heard at Newport and Cwmbran. The consultation on the plans closes on July 21.
I agree with Wayne David’s comments. This is unfortunately part of a wider, and long standing, process of moving all Caerffili’s law and healthcare services to Gwent. We are being left with nothing.
Since the time of the Normans Caerffili has been part of Glamorgan, never Gwent nor Monmouthshire. The river Rhymney is the border. We should have South Wales Police and Cardiff and Vale Health board to provide us with services. Communities further up the Rhymney Valley are suffering in a similar way. It is ridiculous that an entire county borough is without a magistrates court.
The old, pre 1973, system of Glamorgan County Council and Caerphilly Urban District Council was far better, in my opinion, in serving the needs of the people that live here.
It is a rare occasion where I find myself agreeing with Wayne David.