THE Secretary of State has agreed to the demolition of a much loved community hall in Atherton.

An application for Formby Hall to be demolished was originally approved by Wigan Council at a planning meeting in January.

However the following day, after Bolton West MP Chris Green intervened, the application was called in by the Communities and Local Government Secretary.

Atherton Residents Association had also previously launched a petition against the demolition which culminated in a 5,000 name petition being handed in to Wigan Council in the summer.

Leader of Wigan Council, Lord Peter Smith said MP Chris Green "unfairly raised hopes among the local community" and "wasted public money".

He added: "It's very disheartening, because I remember the building as a youngster and it served the community as a function hall.

However, times have changed, and despite the disappointment, we have to move forward.

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

“The planning application considered was on the method of the demolition of the building and not whether the building should be preserved.

“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."

Mr Green said Lord Smith's comments "show how little he cares about what the people of Atherton want".

He added: "Lord Smith’s comments are a smack in the face to the thousands of people who wanted to keep Formby Hall open.

“Local residents pleaded with him to help them save Formby Hall and I was asked to step in after it became clear that he and the rest of Labour-run Wigan Council weren’t going to listen.

“The question that now needs answering is how and why a much-loved and well-used community hall that was gifted to the people of Atherton a century ago will now be knocked down — all under Lord Smith’s watch.”