CASES will start to be taken away from Dolgellau Magistrates’ Court as early as next Monday, the Cambrian News understands.

From 1 August, cases where defendants are pleading guilty will be heard at Caernarfon. Trials will continue at Dolgellau for the time being.

But calls are being made for the Justice Secretary to intervene and postpone the new arrangements for Dolgellau and Caernarfon Crown Court until an appropriate video-link is established for defendants whose cases would have previously been listed in Dolgellau.

The bid has been launched by MP for Dwyfor-Meirionnydd Liz Saville Roberts, who is Plaid Cymru’s justice spokesperson.

In a letter to Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss MP, Mrs Saville Roberts called for an appropriate video-link between Dolgellau and Caernarfon so those pleading guilty wouldn’t have to travel to Caernarfon while the Meirionnydd court is still open.

Until the court closes, criminal cases listed for the first time should continue to be held in Dolgellau, she said.

This follows the Ministry of Justice’s decision to close Dolgellau Magistrates Court as part of an England and Wales-wide cull of courts.

Mrs Saville-Roberts said: “There are many communities in Meirionnydd where the availability of public transport is limited, so it would be impossible for a defendant from Corris or Tywyn, for example, to attend Caernarfon court for a 9.30am start by public transport.

“I would therefore request that no cases that would previously have been listed in Dolgellau are moved from Dolgellau until this commitment is fulfilled.”See this week's north editions for the full story, in shops now or online by clicking the Digital Editions tab at the top of the page