Sutton Coldfield’s Magistrates Court is under threat of closure just eight years after it last avoided the axe.

The courthouse, in Lichfield Road, is among 157 UK magistrates courts facing closure in a bid to save £35 million from the budget.

Also under threat are Halesowen, West Bromwich and Tamworth Magistrates Courts and County Courts in Stourbridge, Redditch, Kidderminster and Tamworth.

The announcement comes after plans for a £94 million Birmingham super court, to replace the ageing Victoria Law Courts, were shelved to save money.

Staff at Sutton Coldfield Magistrates were meeting to discuss the proposals.

Courts minister Jonathan Djanogly said that all the courts listed are under used or inadequate and that they fail to reflect recent changes in population.

“The arrangements we have are historical and now need to be re-assessed to ask whether they properly meet the needs of communities as they are today.

“We now have the opportunity to think afresh about how we can create a more modern fit-for-purpose justice system in line with the way we live our lives today.

“Across the civil, family and criminal courts I want to explore ways we can harness technology more effectively so people don’t necessarily have to physically attend court.

“We should not think about access to justice as simply a question of length of the journey to the nearest court. In the future, we need to look at whether through the more effective use of video and telephone links and online services, we can improve the public’s experience of the justice system.”

In 2002 Sutton Coldfield court was earmarked for closure by the West Midlands Magistrates Court Committee which wanted to move its caseload to the new Birmingham super court.

But a Keep Justice Local campaign, backed by a 5,500 petition, and led by Sutton Coldfield Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell proved successful.