Centralised County Court ready to open its doors

The days of litigants issuing claims in their local county court are numbered.  On 19 March the National Civil Business Centre ("NCBC") will open its doors.  From this date the majority of county court claims in England and Wales will have to be issued at the salford-based Centre (exceptions include claims for injunctions or claims made under the "Part 8" procedure).  The NCBC will not actually hear any cases - these will be transferred to the appropriate county court - but will carry out administrative functions and hold seals for all existing county courts.  HM Courts and Tribunal service believes a new electronic filing system will considerably improve turnaround times.  However some practitioners have expressed concern that local county courts will suffer as a result of the reduction in counter staff.