THE demolition of the final town centre home of a once thriving hub for young people has been delayed while its owners seek further permission from the local authority.

Planning approval has been granted to knock down the decaying building of Blackburn's West End Catholic Youth Club in Clayton Street.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford had told officials that the organisation had been closed for some years and the site was now unsafe and too expensive to repair.

But planning officer Nick Blackledge has told the Diocese that it needs to get written permission from Blackburn with Darwen Council as the owner of the land before the demolition can proceed.

The West End Catholic Youth Club once played a large part in the life of many Blackburn teenagers.

Mr Blackledge's report says: "It is submitted that it is necessary to demolish the building as it is no longer in use and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

"Demolition has taken proportionate account of bat habitat, by means of submission and review of a Bat Scoping Survey (SS) and an Activity Survey (AS).

"The SS concluded that the quality of roosting habitat within the building is of low suitability for bats and the AS concluded that roosting bats are likely absent from the building, with

no further surveys required.

"Demolition is, therefore, found to be permitted development.

"It is recognised that the land is council owned.

"The council’s property team advise that demolition of the building will require the written consent of the council prior to commencement and that the council’s legal team will be notifying the applicant of the same, in writing."

The youth club was a major social centre, organised sports teams, and staged trips out for its large membership.