A HAMPSHIRE court will close and others will be “integrated” under Government cost-cutting plans announced today.

Fareham Magistrates’ Court is among 91 courts across the country set to disappear after ministers decided it was too-little used.

And Western Range and Barrack Block, both in Southampton, will be integrated within Southampton Magistrates’ Court, under the proposals.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the Southampton move would ensure “tribunal hearings take place in a more modern fit for purpose building”.

In a consultation document, it added: “It will enable more flexibility in the listing of cases and allow more efficient use of staff and judicial time.

“The impact on users will be low as both buildings are on the same site.”

Ministers said the closures – which are out to a 12-week consultation – were achievable because digital technology meant fewer people “need to physically be in a court”.

And it said the 91 courts set to be axed had been carefully chosen to ensure witnesses and relatives would not have to make “excessively long or difficult journeys to attend hearings”.

Most of the 91 are not used for at least two thirds of their available time - and one in three are not used three quarters of the time, the MoJ said.

Courts Minister Shailesh Vara said: “We are reforming the courts and tribunal service so that it meets the needs of modern day users.

“As we bring in digital technology for better and more efficient access to justice, fewer people will need to physically be in a court.

“This means that we will need fewer buildings, and with many already underused and in poor quality, now is a good time to review the estate.”

The document added: “Delivering effective access to justice does not necessarily mean providing access to a building.

“This challenges the assumption that there needs to be a court or tribunal in every local area.”

There are “well established alternative ways that users can access the justice system”, it said – pointing to evidence given over a video link, telephone hearings and the use of other public buildings.

Money from the sale of “surplus” court buildings will be “reinvested as part of the funding for the reform programme”.