Two of the magistrates courts in Powys are to close, despite a long-running campaign.
The courts at Ystradgynlais, in the Swansea Valley, and Llandrindod Wells will close by 2007 with business transferring to Newtown and Brecon.
But protesters are still campaigning for a reprieve. Their struggle has also led to a questions in parliament, a private ministerial meeting and a petition of more than 3,000 names being collected.
Liberal Democrat MPs Lembit Opik and Roger Williams are lobbying for a reversal of the decision, which was backed by Powys Council.
The parliament questions took place on 24 February and a subsequent private meeting with Constitutional Affairs Minister Chris Leslie has also been held.
The MPs and campaigners are worried about long journeys for defendants and witnesses.
"
Imagine if people in London were told they had to travel to Croydon to go to court, there would be an outcry
"
Lembit Opik MP
The closure plan comes after a recommendation by Dyfed Powys Magistrates Court Committee.
Ceredigion Council were against the plan and the authority has seen their court house in Aberystwyth saved - but neighbouring Powys Council agreed with the scheme.
Despite the intervention of MPs, the decision still stands because there was no formal objection.
"The sad thing is, for rural areas, the huge distances people have to travel for justice and that hasn't gone anyway," said Mr Opik, the MP for Montgomery.
"The problem people in London don't recognise is that mid-Wales is four times the size of the whole of London.
"Imagine if people in London were told they had to travel to Croydon to go to court, there would be an outcry.
Still hopeful
The court house at Brecon will be extended to accommodate the extra business, while Newtown will have a new building.
But Powys Councillor Margaret Morris said she was still hopeful the Llandrindod Wells court could be saved.
She is to present a petition to Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor.
But Lembit Opik said: "Chris Leslie (minister) made it quite clear - Powys County Council had not challenged the closure in my colleague's constituency and because of that he was not in a position to reopen it, it is a matter of great disappointment for Roger Williams."
"As for Montgomeryshire we had a clear assurance from the minister and he confirmed we were on course to have a new court house in Newtown in approximately three years."
Mr Opik said there were valid criticisms of court houses but in sorting out issues like disabled access, the decision-making process will lead to people facing long journeys to court.
Problems with security at Llandrindod Wells and cell accommodation have also prompted the review.
Powys' approval
A spokesman for Powys Council said: "The council agreed to support the plan because it offered the best option for magistrate court coverage for the whole of the county with a proposed new court in Newtown and a refurbishment of facilities in Brecon.
"The council had asked for reassurance that supporting Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court would not jeopardise the plans for Newtown and Brecon.
But no reassurance has been received and the authority "reluctantly" maintained its support for the closure plan.
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