THERE has been anger and sadness from people in Atherton after a decision by a planning inspector to rubber stamp the manner in which Formby Hall is demolished.

The application for the popular civic venue to be demolished was originally approved by Wigan Council at a planning meeting in January, but subsequently called in by the secretary of state for communities and local government, the following day, at the behest of Bolton West MP Chris Green who also represents Atherton.

The news came despite the best efforts of Atherton Residents Association to save the building, which culminated in a 5,000 name petition being handed in to Wigan Council in the summer.

Following last week's decision, the leader of Wigan Council, Lord Peter Smith said Mr Green should shoulder some of the responsibility for a "waste of public money".

At the public inquiry in July, residents were concerned that they had been caught 'off guard' in discussing the fate of the building, after the council’s planning committee admitted its remit was not to decide whether the hall should or should not be demolished.

The demolition ruling, which was made public last week by the department for the communities and local government, stated the objections from the residents were not to be considered part of the determination of the application including the covenant on the building.

The objections raised in relation to the method of demolition and restoration of the site were not supported by sufficient substantive evidence to outweigh the evidence in support of the method of demolition.

The response to the decision on Facebook, included comments from various people including Michelle Xena Leyland who said: "Wigan's Labour council appear determined to destroy our town full stop and it's a disgrace. Thank you for all your help with this, nice to know some care about our area."

Vivienne Sapphire Hamilton added: "I'm in tears reading this, such a shame that I and many others will no longer be able to have any future parties here, hope you are happy you greedy people. God will pay you back."

Atherton councillor Martin Aldred said the residents had fought hard to save the hall and he was dismayed that it was now to be demolished.

He explained: "It's very disheartening, because I remember the building as a youngster and it served the community as a function hall, but times change, and despite the disappointment we have to move forward."

Lord Smith said: “It was clear to the council from the very beginning that the call in and subsequent public enquiry would not reverse the planning committee’s decision on the planned demolition of Formby Hall.

“This was clearly a political decision by Chris Green to have the application called in to the Secretary of State and I feel one which unfairly raised hopes among the local community.

“This call in process, which has lasted almost a year, was a waste of public money and time and one which Mr Green should accept responsibility for.

“We intend to pursue the government for the cost which local people have had to pay and I hope Chris Green will support us."

In response, Mr Green said: "This is a disappointing decision, but one not completely unexpected given that the inspector could only look at aspects of the demolition process rather than how the sale of Formby Hall was dealt with.

"I am convinced that if the inspector had had the power to look at how a much-loved community hall could have been left under Wigan Council to go to rack and ruin and then sold in such an underhand manner, then he may have found cause for concern.

"Formby Hall was a much-loved and well-used community hub and it will be heart-breaking to see it knocked down 100 years after it was first gifted to the people of Atherton.”

in extracts from an open letter aimed at Wigan Council and posted on social media this week, the chairman of Atherton Residents Association, Stuart Gerrard said:

"Last week we learned an invaluable lesson, we learned that whatever the constituents feel and no matter how much support for this much loved building to remain open and given back to the public, you will just ignore it no matter what.

"We have seen this played out in the most intolerable way and you have the audacity to call Mr Green, he stood up for the 5,000 people who signed a petition to save the hall.

"That's not playing politics that's doing his job. It would be worth your while taking a leaf out of his book."