COUNCIL plans to demolish a vacant former pub house to make way for housing have angered conservationists.

Several have formally objected to the scheme to knock down The Griffin on Bank Top.

It was sold to Blackburn with Darwen Council by Thwaites Brewery with a restrictive covenant preventing its future use as premises licensed for the sale of alcohol

The borough has now submitted a planning application to demolish the Georgian pub building as part of a scheme to clear The Griffin regeneration area for the building of 150 new homes.

The scheme was delayed for seven years by the refusal of two home owners to sell the final properties needed for the scheme in Mill Hill.

Former archaeologist and local historian Maggy Simms from Cherry Tree has told council planners in a letter: "The Griffin pub is a substantial late Georgian building linked closely to the history of the Redlam area and Blackburn's local history.

Blackburn has lost most of its built heritage without pausing to consider the impact that this has. It would be sad to lose this building, which has stood for almost 200 years.

"It would be heartening to see the Griffin pub re-adapted and included into any new development as a lasting legacy to future generations and as an acknowledgement of the early working-class history of the town."

Former Blackburn resident and fellow local history enthusiast Dave Whalley told planners in another objection letter: "Blackburn has lost too many of its Georgian buildings.

"The Griffin is a prominent landmark in Redlam, which once housed a colony of handloom weavers.

"The Griffin Inn is a fine building, probably a couple of centuries old, which ought to be preserved

"The Griffin should be integrated into whatever development takes place, thereby handing on to future generations the existing view towards Redlam."

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Phil Riley said: "The Griffin was sold by the previous owner with a restrictive covenant preventing its use to serve alcohol.

"The building is in a poor state of repair is difficult to see what other use it could be put to,

"This is an important housing scheme and demolishing the Griffin is important to opening up the necessary access to make it attractive to developers."