WINCHESTER Guildhall is set to be used as a temporary courtroom.

The Lord Chancellor announced eight new 'Nightingale' courts across the UK to help tackle the impact of Covid-19 on the justice system.

No location in Winchester has been confirmed but it is known that the Guildhall was being considered.

The Nightingale Courts, due to open in the next few weeks, will hear non-custodial crime cases, as well as civil, family and tribunals work. They are named after the temporary hospitals that opened in the spring to deal with Covid cases.

The move will free up more room in existing courts to hear other cases, including custodial jury trials, which require cells and secure dock facilities to keep the public, victims and witnesses safe.

The Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP said: "We are beginning to see positive signs thanks to the hard work of everyone working in our system – with the number of outstanding cases in magistrates’ courts now falling as a result of the measures we have introduced.

"But we must keep going if we are to get our courts back up to speed. These additional eight Nightingale Courts will further boost our efforts to increase capacity - reducing delays and delivering speedier justice for all."

Winchester civic chiefs are tight-lipped over proposals to use the Guildhall. The Chronicle asked for comment but received no response.

The proposal comes as the city council's decided to cut losses and reduce public use of the Guildhall. Eleven out of 13 staff jobs are being made redundant.

The Guildhall is not closing as it will still be open on a 'venue-only' basis whereby it still be hired but there will be no staff support or hospitality such as bars.

Rooms in the Guildhall were last used as a court in the early 1970s whilst the Law Courts at The Castle were being built.

City MP Steve Brine, speaking after a visit of the Lord Chancellor to Winchester, said the idea of 'Nightingale' court, after the temporary hospitals, was being explored to clear the backlog caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.

"The Lord Chancellor seemed keen to hear about the idea and progress when he was here. Seems logical given Winchester is at the heart of the Western Circuit but one does wonder if our council will have the imagination to grasp that opportunity unlike so many others."