The first two judicial review actions seeking to prevent magistrates’ court closures were issued last week, the Gazette has learned.

The proceedings seek to challenge the planned closure of Sedgemoor Magistrates’ Court in Somerset and Barry Magistrates’ Court in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Sedgemoor magistrates have set up a company, SLJ (Sedgemoor), to pursue their case, as magistrates’ courts are precluded from taking legal action.

The company has issued judicial review proceedings claiming the Ministry of Justice’s decision to close the court is ‘irrational’.

The magistrates claim the MoJ’s assessment of the savings that would be made by closing the court is inaccurate, and that its plan for cases to be dealt with instead by Taunton Magistrates’ Court is flawed, because Taunton would not be able to take on the extra work without building more facilities.

The magistrates also claim that if the Sedgemoor court were to close, HM Courts Service figures show that only 51% of the population in the catchment area would meet the government’s target of being within one hour of the courtroom.

In Wales, Vale of Glamorgan Council served judicial review papers on the MoJ in a bid to prevent the closure of Barry Magistrates’ Court.

Vale of Glamorgan council leader Gordon Kemp, a solicitor at Bridgend and Cardigan firm Anthony & Jarvie, said the MoJ’s plan to move cases to Cardiff, seven miles away, would increase travel costs for court users in Barry, where there is ‘much social deprivation’, and would also increase lawyers’ costs, impacting on the legal aid budget.

He said: ‘The government must revisit the whole question of court closures and carry out a thorough impact assessment.’

Kemp said that he expected a preliminary hearing in the ‘next month or so’ at the High Court in Cardiff.

An MoJ spokeswoman said the ministry would defend the claim in relation to Barry, but she could not comment on the Sedgemoor claim as the MoJ had not received notification of proceedings.

She added: ‘Closures will ultimately help to modernise and improve the use of courts in England and Wales. Keeping under-utilised courts open is not a good use of taxpayers’ money, and resources must be targeted to best effect to provide value for money.

‘The number and location of courts must reflect changes in population, transport and communication links and meet the expectation of our twenty-first century communities.’

The government intends to close 93 magistrates’ courts and 49 county courts following a consultation last year.

Further judicial review actions are expected in relation to the closures.