QUESTIONS remain over what will happen to Bicester Magistrates Court when it shuts,which could happen in the coming weeks.

It has been 12 months since the Government announced the closure of the town's only court and while no firm date has been set, the Ministry of Justice has said it could be as early as next month.

As it stands there are no firm plans for the building off Queen’s Avenue once it is empty with MoJ officials saying these will be decided at a later date.

However, there are fears that in order to cash in on the town centre property, it will be sold to a housing developer.

Bicester Town mayor Jolanta Lis has previously said the town has enough housing planned, with 13,000 additional homes expected by 2031, and hopes whatever replaced the site would bring high-end jobs.

She said: "At the moment the building is being used for administration purposes by the magistrates courts service.

“We don’t know at this stage what the MoJ’s long-term plans are for the building.

“I believe there is a long-standing covenant on the site in Queen’s Avenue, dating back to the 1950s, which says only public service buildings should go on that site."

The court has not been used for criminal cases since 2013, with the two cells being decommissioned in 2010.

Ms Lis said the Ministry of Justice could decide to sell up and allow a new owner to apply for a change in covenant.

She added: "But the MoJ does not have to inform us of its long-term plans and, for the time being, as far as we know, the backroom services for the magistrates are continuing."

The mayor’s view on no more housing has been echoed by both residents and local businesses.

When the government made the announcement Bicester Chamber of Commerce said it would be a shame if the site was turned into flats.

Resident John Broad added: "With the town expanding to around 100,000 by 2031 this loss of yet another facility may be a bit short-sighted.

"If it has to go then the site should be used for another facility such as a theatre. The location is in the town centre with good access by bus, cycling or walking.

"Although the Government might wish to get the maximum money, the site must not be used for housing.

"Bicester keeps losing facilities whilst gaining more and more housing and the town centre is dying."

Bicester Magistrates has stood proudly in the building known as Waverley House since the 1970s.

Prior to the court it was the old Ploughley Rural District Council site according to Bicester Local History Society. Up until this point, court proceedings were being held at the now Old Police Station in Church Street until the 1970s.

Society chairman Bob Hessian said: "In the 1960/70s it was felt necessary to have proper facilities to run a magistrates court to cope with the increasing population of Bicester.

"Yet in the 2017, with an even bigger projected increase in the local population it is deemed unnecessary to have such a facility – is this because Bicester residents are more law abiding than their predecessors?"

The MoJ is proposing to close the 'underused and dilapidated' court as part of a national overhaul expected to save £40m which will be reinvested in court technology.

A spokeswoman added that there would be no job losses and a plan for the future will get underway once the court is officially closed.