GLOUCESTERSHIRE magistrates have warned that court users face expensive and long public transport travel times to Gloucester and Cheltenham if the Stroud bench closes.

The magistrates’ court in Parliament Street is one of three in the county alongside Coleford and Cirencester expected to shut as part of the coalition government’s cost-cutting measures.

Online research shows that a bus user travelling from Stroud to Gloucester would need to depart Merrywalks at 7.06am at a return cost of £5.70 to ensure arriving at court for the required time of 9.45am.

A £5.50 return bus to Cheltenham via Painswick and Brockworth would need to be caught at 8.40am while train users would have to catch the 8.22am service to arrive in Gloucester by 8.50am and Cheltenham by 9.03am at a cost of £4.90 return.

Philip Judge, chairman of the Gloucestershire branch of the Magistrates’ Association, said: "Vulnerable court users have to make their own way to court and for some going further can be intimidating, time consuming, difficult and expensive."

He added that he has written to Stroud MP Neil Carmichael to seek his support in opposing the closure.

Having already expressed his regret at the potential loss, Mr Carmichael said he was in talks with ministers to explore alternatives to the closure.

"I am very disappointed that the court looks likely to close," he said.

"However, I am also mindful of the enormous budget deficit the last Labour Government left us with."

A consultation on whether to shut 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts nationwide will run until September.