MAGISTRATES’ courts in Bicester, Didcot and Witney could be shut under Government plans to save more than £36m.

The Government yesterday announced proposals to close 157 magistrates’ and county courts in England and Wales.

The move would leave just two magistrates’ courts in the county, at Oxford and Banbury. Wantage is already earmarked for closure following consultation in October last year.

Courts in Abingdon and Henley closed in March 1999 after public consultation the previous year deemed them unsuitable.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said the move could save £15.3m a year and a one-off maintenance backlog bill of £21.5m.

He said he wanted to examine whether new technology could be used to help people resolve disputes in a more flexible, faster and effective way than through county courts.

Mr Clarke said the Government would keep courts open in the “most strategically important locations”.

Consultation papers setting out proposals to close 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts, of the 530 currently open, were published online.

Mr Clarke said: “When public finances are under pressure, it is vital to eliminate waste and reduce costs.

“We should also take the opportunity to think afresh about how we can provide more modern court services.”

In 2005, Didcot Magistrates’ Court was reopened after a £1.4m refurbishment which almost doubled the size of the courthouse.