PRIVATE sector landlords are joining forces in a bid to save the UK’s network of county courts threatened with closure which includes two Gwent courts.

The Residential Landlords Association (RLA), which is one of the country’s main organisations for professional landlords, is lobbying the Government to rethink its plans to scrap a number of county courts including those at Chepstow and Pontypool.

Individual members are also lobbying the Ministry of Justice.

The Argus reported in June how consultation documents published by the Ministry of Justice earmarked 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts across England and Wales for closure due to them being “underused and inadequate”.

Abertillery and Abergavenny magistrates’ courts are also among those being threatened.

The report stated that running costs for Pontypool County Court during 2009/10 were £54,506 and closure would remove the need for £135,000 worth of maintenance.

The cost of keeping Chepstow County Court building was £2,917 in 2009/10.

RLA secretary, Richard Jones said the group was concerned about the proposed closures due to residential landlords being among the few businesspeople who regularly have to use the court service as part of their day to day work.

Residential landlords are unable to take possession of a building without a court order.

Mr Jones said: “Courts are already under great pressure and waiting lists are growing and this would only get worse. But meanwhile, landlords have to allow tenants to continue living in their properties even if they are not paying their rent.

“To us, an efficient, effective and above all speedy court service is vital.”