Work has begun on the demolition of the former magistrates' court in Liskeard which is to be replaced by housing. Diggers have moved onto the site at Culverland Road to start tearing down the building which opened in 1987, bringing to an end a long history of the courts being held in the Guildhall in Fore Street. The courthouse, which had its own purpose-built cells, has lain empty for three years since the magistrates' courts for East Cornwall were centralised at Bodmin in April 2011. The 3.22-acre site was sold for £380,000 on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in December to Michael Hoskin, from Hoskin Construction Ltd, of Siblyback Farm, Common Moor. In March a request for pre- application advice was submitted to Cornwall Council by the company's agent Ivan Tomlin, of Polruan, in respect of the demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of about 50 open market and affordable homes. The council has stated that no consent is required for the demolition of the existing building, which was part of the adjoining SWEB depot prior to conversion to magistrates' courts. It is understood the pre-application discussions are continuing.