Whether Fenton Town Hall and the superb Great War Memorial inside can be saved for the community depends very much on whether the property can be put on the Protected Asset List. This is held at and administered by the city council. For inclusion it has to be argued successfully that the building's former use, prior to closure, had "community value". The Ministry of Justice (very conveniently) argue that the Magistrates' use was only administrative and, therefore, it shouldn't be protected. Meanwhile the city council seem to be struggling with the concept that a Magistrates' Court fulfils vital community functions. Words like may and could are not what people want to hear; as can be seen here HMCS (the Ministry of Justice) had no problem describing Magistrates Courts' community role in 2005. http://i1297.photobucket If you have more evidence, or are a magistrate or judge and can give a statement regarding Magistrates' courts functions within the community please get in touch.