North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin has raised concerns over radical changes planned for the county's magistrates' courts system.

He argued it would lead to "remote justice" and was running over budget. But a spokesman for the courts defended the scheme, saying it would lead to less travelling for users and proper facilities for all.

Mr Jenkin said: "It is my understanding that a new courthouse in Colchester would hear cases from Harwich and Clacton.

"Magistrates will hear cases from people who live in communities that they know little or nothing about.

"I do not claim this will lead to rough justice, but it will lead to remote justice."

Mr Jenkin also said he believed Essex taxpayers would have to pay an extra £3 million to buy court sites.

But Richard Hawkes, administration director for Essex magistrates courts, responded to the suggestion that there would be remote justice by saying the current system did not mean an offender would appear at the nearest court to his or her home anyway.

Mr Hawkes said the project was a "long way from the end of the road" and the figure of £30 million was an early estimate of the cost of building the five new courts.

He accepted it was now expected to cost more than that.

Published Tuesday, March 5, 2002