A DECISION is set to be made next week on whether to demolish Radcliffe Civic Suite.

An application from the Great Places Housing Association to bulldoze the landmark building to make way for 40 new affordable homes will be discussed at a meeting of Bury Council's planning committee on Tuesday.

Planning officers have recommended that the council should be minded to approve the plans, though they would have to first agree to a change in their policy on building on open space land in the area.

Two letters and a petition containing 251 signatures have been received by the council, objecting to the demolition of the civic hall and any building on the surrounding area.

Issues raised in the letters of complaint include potential traffic disruption to town centre businesses that suffered badly because of the Church Street West roadworks, and a lack of firm plans for a replacement venue.

Bury Council is currently putting together a business plan for a £10 million leisure and entertainment venue to be built on the site of the former Green Street swimming baths, which they have promised will be open within three years. The temporary Radcliffe Leisure Centre, in Spring Lane, will remain open in the meantime.

The proposals were announced in October as the latest step in the council's regeneration of Radcliffe town centre.

Making their recommendation to committee members, planning officers said: "The report has assessed all of the planning issues including the loss of and re-provision of recreation/open space provision, the loss of the civic centre building and the provision of 100 per cent affordable housing and in balancing these issues against planning policy locally and nationally, it is considered reasonable to recommend approval to the proposed development."

It is planned to close the civic suite on April 17.