BOURNEMOUTH Magistrates Court will close if proposals to move cases to Poole go ahead.

The 100-year-old building in Stafford Road could be out of use by October, according to consultation documents issued by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.

The proposed closure would mean there would be just two magistrates courts - Poole and Weymouth - covering the whole county.

HM Coroner for Dorset would also need to relocate from the part of the Stafford Road building it currently leases.

Separate proposals recommend the closure of Dorchester Crown Court with its business moving to Bournemouth Crown Court in Riverside Avenue.

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

"Access to justice is not just about attending court. 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."

Natalie Ceeney, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service Chief Executive, added: "As we modernise our service so that fewer people will need to attend a court in person, spending money on unsuitable or rarely used buildings is not good value for money for taxpayers."

Consultation papers claim the Grade II listed building in Stafford Road is in very poor condition and would require significant investment compared to the more modern Poole court at the Civic Centre.

Bournemouth magistrates court is currently only used at 52 per cent capacity and running costs for 2014/15 were £382,000.

There are currently 35 staff based in Stafford Road and three at Dorchester.

An impact assessment published alongside the consultation paper estimates the value of all freehold buildings listed for closure nationally at £35 million.

The overall cost of implementing the changes is expected to be around £62m. This would include the cost of works such as technology changes and preparing closed courts for sale, as well as transferring material to other buildings.

It also warns that lawyers and judges located in rural areas may experience higher travel costs.

Consultation runs until October 8 and responses can be sent to HMCTS Consultation, Ministry of Justice, Post point 1.13, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ.