The High Court is set to hear the first of four legal challenges to magistrates’ courts closures, the Gazette has learned.

A challenge to the closure of Sittingbourne Magistrates’ Court has been listed in May, and the High Court in Wales will list a hearing for June on the planned closure in Barry.

Judicial review proceedings have been issued in relation to the planned closures of Sedgemoor and Cardigan Magistrates’ Courts.

The Law Society and the Law Society of Kent have helped to fund the challenge against the Sittingbourne closure, which is led by Simon Holmes, partner at Kent firm Robin Murray & Co.

He said: ‘The court is extremely busy, with an 82% utilisation rate, serving a socially deprived area, and the decision to close it is irrational.’

The challenge to the closure of Cardigan Magistrates’ Court has been made by two local firms, Welch & Co and Taylor Lewis.

They are waiting to hear whether the local council, which opposes the closure, will back the challenge financially.

The local council, led by solicitor Gordon Kemp, issued the proceedings in relation to the court in Barry, while the Sedgemoor bench set up a company to fight its closure.

The actions follow advice obtained by the Law Society that local actions are more likely to succeed than a national action against all 93 court closures.

An MoJ spokeswoman said it is aware of the proceedings.