THE council tower block next to Blackburn Town Hall could be left empty or knocked down to save cash.

The 14-storey high-rise set of offices will be surplus to requirements by 2020 because of reductions in local authority staff.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is to rationalise its office accommodation by moving staff to other buildings in the borough.

The tower block has been one of the most distinctive features of the town’s skyline since it was built as part of the original Mall shopping centre in the 1960s.

It is currently only half-occupied with just 293 staff occupying office space for 600.

They will be split between Blackburn and Darwen town halls, the refurbished Davyfield Road depot and offices in Duke Street.

Borough resources boss Cllr Andy Kay said: “We will not need the tower block by 2020 because of cuts.

“All options will be on the table including mothballing it, demolishing it, selling it or letting it out.

“It will require money spending on it but in the long-term we would like to see it used for either office or residential occupation.”

Tony Duckworth, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said: “The block is a vanity project from a bygone age. If it cannot be put to use, it should be demolished rather than left standing empty.”

Cllr Colin Rigby, council Conservative group resources spokesman, said: “I don’t think there was any choice. It is the right decision.

“The question is what happens next. I don’t think it can be demolished - that would be a massive job. I doubt it will be easy to let, leaving council taxpayers to pick up the bill.”

The decision, part of a £1.95million accommodation strategy, will be discussed by the council’s executive board on Thursday. A report on the future of the block will be prepared after discussions with Mall owners’ Capital and Regional who were unavailable for immediate comment yesterday.

Leaving the tower block empty will save the council between between £120,000 and £290,000 a year in running and maintenance costs.