THE former Green Bengal restaurant in Bromley Cross will be demolished - as the site’s owners appeal to the government over their bid for a new Sainsbury’s to be built in its place.

Workers from Tonge Moor company CW Construction are already on site carrying out preparatory work for the demolition of the building — previously the Volunteer Inn — in Darwen Road.

After March’s meeting of the planning committee — where the application to build a new supermarket, two shops and a car park was thrown out — the developers gave notice to the council that they planned to knock down the building, which was accepted.

Now, CW Construction has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate for it to reconsider the council’s decision to reject the original application.

Residents have complained that the supermarket plan did not include enough parking spaces and, if built, would loom large over nearby homes.

Bromley Cross councillor Norman Critchley, who sits on the planning committee, said he was satisfied that the demolition of the building would be carried out properly.

He said: “I know that our building control at the council has produced a huge document on conditions, and I’m very satisfied that the developers have gone through the right procedure. It’s in excellent hands.

“The comments I made at the planning meeting still stand. I didn’t believe and I still don’t believe the scheme was acceptable in conditions for that house in Lords Stile Lane.

“The parking is very bad in that area.

“There needed to be fully adequate parking, there already is not enough at the Co-operative shop.”

A council spokesman said: “The demolition of this building does not require planning permission.

“Prior notification of this action has been submitted, and the only matters that the council’s planning department can consider are the means of demolition and site restoration, which are both acceptable in this case.”

The demolition is expected to take three weeks.

CW Construction was not available for comment.