RESIDENTS holding banners showing their disgust over the planned demolition of Formby Hall held a silent protest at a full council meeting last night, Wednesday.

Members of the Residents Stand Against Wigan Council group are fighting for the community hub in Atherton to be saved or replaced with a similar public facility.

A video of their protest at the council meeting at Wigan Town Hall has been seen by thousands of people after being shared on Facebook.

Group representative Jason Lomax-Hargreaves said: “Formby Hall is more than a building, it is the beating heart of the town.

“What we want is for it to be handed back to the community and run by the community or replaced with a similar property which can cater to the town’s needs."

Formby Hall was sold by the council five years ago.

Residents believed that it could be saved from demolition when a public inquiry was launched last April.

However only the manner of demolition was up for debate, with the council's planning committee not having the power to prevent an application to knock down a non-listed building.

A care home is expected to be built at the site following the hall's demolition but campaigners claim the community venue belonged to the town and not the council and should never have been sold.

Jason added: "Generations have been going to the hall for events and classes. It was supposed to be a place for the community but Wigan Council has let us down.

“We, the residents, fought to save the hall but the council did not listen.

"We will keep trying and it is important that the council knows the damage it has caused to the community.

“We are a non-political group that has held a few protests and will hold more.

"The council must be held to account for its damaging decisions.”

Karl Battersby, director for economy and environment at the council, said: “We understand the concerns of the local people but the council has followed all due processes and an independent inspector appointed by the Government has agreed to the method of demolition.”

A similar plan is in place for The Rose Centre civic venue in Lowton, which could be torn down to make way for 36 houses.