WIGAN Council is refusing to put Formby Hall on the agenda at next week's council meeting.The revelation comes after a petition, which has been backed by Coronation Street's Julie Hesmondhalgh, was launched to return the hall to the people of Atherton after it was sold.

Although a bid by CAMRA –The Campaign For Real Ale –to make the building an asset of community value was successful last month, councillors want to secure the long term future of the popular hall and debate it at the full council meeting on Wednesday, September 6.

But the council has ruled that the proposed motion "is not competent for debate" as the wording of the motion references the council "keeping it's promise."

The motion- put forward by Councillors read: "This council will endeavor to fulfill the promise it made to the people of Atherton regarding Formby Hall, namely that the hall would be protected by the council to ensure it remained available for future public use after it left the ownership of the council and will use whatever powers available to it to ensure this promise is kept.

In an email correspondence, leaked to the Leigh Journal, a Wigan Council spokesman said: "The council cannot legally take the action as outlined in the proposed motion wording because I can find no evidence in the papers presented to me that the Council gave a commitment/promise to protect the building ensuring that it would be available for future public use.

"The council is no longer the owner of the building and it would appear the only covenant on the building requiring community social entertainment use is time limited to March 2016.

"I have no details regarding the background to the time limit. The wording of the motion references the council keeping its promise, a promise which I can find no evidence for. It follows therefore that the motion cannot be complied with."

Councillor Jamie Hodgkinson said: "I am just disheartened that they won't do anything to try and keep the venue as it was built for community events and this is like ripping the heart out of the community."

Meanwhile Councillor James Grundy said it is "either a scandal or catastrophe".

A petition, launched by former councillor Norman Bradbury has already had 1,400 signatures including the backing from Corrie soap star Ms Hesmondhalgh.

She said: "I was appalled to hear of the selling off of this much loved and well used community hub, and the manner in which it was done, with no consultation or even notice.

"How are our communities meant to survive when the hearts of them are being ripped out for a quick profit in this way?"

The petition will be presented to the chief executive Donna Hall on Monday, September 7, outside Wigan Town Hall at noon.