AN 11TH-hour bid has been made to save iconic mill buildings from demolition.

The owners of Spring Gardens Mill and Green Road Mill in Colne have outlined plans to Pendle Council to knock down the buildings.

The work does not require planning permission because the mills are not listed, but English Heritage has been asked to get Spring Gardens Mill ‘spot-listed’.

At present, Pendle Council just has to agree to the methods of demolition outlined, but if English Heritage agree the mill should be preserved, then they could prevent its demolition.

Ward councillor Tony Greaves said a resident had asked for the buildings to be spared.

He said: “I believe English Heritage have been asked to look at the mill and they will see whether it should be spot-listed, which is an immediate listing to prevent demolition.

“They would then take a longer look at the building before deciding whether to confirm that listing.

“The development of the mill was included in exciting plans for the South Valley in 2007 but they have fallen through because of the credit crunch and the financial situation and there is no chance of those plans going ahead now.

“My view is that there is no alternative. A lot of the buildings are quite run-down and the area could be used for housing.

“I am hoping we can arrange a meeting between the local councillors and the owners of the buildings to discuss the future.

“We need more housing and if we don’t want to use greenfield sites, then sites such as these are ideal.”

Ian Graham, Labour’s Lancashire County Council candidate for Pendle Central, said: “Many residents will be pleased to see the end of these dark satanic mills but others may regret the loss of industrial revolution architectural heritage that was celebrated during the Olympics 2012 opening ceremony.”

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: “We will be assessing it before making a recommendation to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.”