A MULTI-million pound magistrates court in Newport is due to start dealing with its first cases on September 30.

The £13 million environmentally friendly court house off Lower Dock Street, Pill, replaces the old court in Clytha Park Road which closed suddenly in January last year, 12 years after it was first deemed unfit for purpose.

The old court, which is part of the Civic Centre, was been handed back to Newport council.

The state-of-the-art courthouse will deal with cases which have been sent to courts in Cwmbran, Caerphilly and Abergavenny since last year.

The three storey-building is equipped with four court rooms, modern facilities and a plate-glass entrance hall opening onto Usk Way.

The structure, which is set to become a Newport landmark, will also have holding cells and a 22-space car park.

The Argus reported in May that up to 34 new jobs could be created as a result, with some positions filled by transferring staff from other courts.

A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman said today that staff will be sent to Newport magistrates court from a central base as and when they are required, which is already what happens at Cwmbran, Caerphilly and Abergavenny.

The MoJ told the Argus earlier this year that the construction phase was due for completion this summer with the official opening scheduled for October, but we can reveal the first cases will be heard on Monday, September 30.

Proposals for a new magistrates' court were first put forward in 1987.

A Grade-II listed magistrates court building, built in 1905, is still standing in Gold Tops, Newport, but has not been used as a court for years, the council said in May.

The 108-year-old structure was originally the City of Newport Tredegar Estates Office and from the mid-1950s became the Newport Magistrates Court, which was still used as a court and court offices until it closed.

The Argus contacted Newport council regarding what is happening the old court on Clytha Park Road but did not receive an answer.