A petition to save a building “that is an integral part of the history of Nelson” has gathered more than 600 signatures, as it faces the threat of demolition under a new regeneration scheme.

Trafalgar House, near Nelson Town Hall, was discussed at an executive board meeting on September 19 as part of a regeneration option intended to complement other town centre changes.

Councillors David Whipp and Tom Whipp both voted that a full demolition should be undertaken for Trafalgar House to make way for a 150-space car park, while others including Ash Sutcliffe were in favour of a partial demolition.

Deputy leader David Whipp dubbed the historic building a "blot on the landscape" and said it stands in a "grot spot" in the town centre.

The building had been in disrepair for years, and attempts to find a commercially viable proposal from either Pendle Leisure Trust or Burnley FC in the Community to get involved have been unsuccessful.

Conservative Cllr Ash Sutcliffe, who represents the Waterside and Horsfield ward, said: “The reception has been fantastic and there are over 600 signatures on the petition now and there is a sense of feeling to sustain the building.

“To tear it down and put a car park there I simply cannot understand.

“Nelson has gone through lots of iterations and has lost its way recently and that is why it has had so much investment to develop a new version of Nelson and ripping down its history does not do that.”

Since its takeover, consultants at David Morley Architects proposed some ideas which included keeping the historic front but redeveloping the back areas for car parking – but this was estimated to cost £2.1 million.

Cllr Sutcliffe added: “I am not in favour of any demolition at all, but I understand that finances and uses are obviously an issue going forward.

“If there was a partial demolition agreement that maintains a good third of the building and it keeps longevity and keeps the historic front part of the building, whilst I wouldn’t be happy at least I could understand it.”

It has been considered for indoor cricket facilities, an event space, apartments and a commercial unit in recent years, but these have fallen through after Alliance Leisure set an estimated cost of £3m.

Pendle Council deputy leader, Liberal Democrat Cllr David Whipp said: “I understand, and I share people's desire to keep old buildings, but faced with financial realities it just doesn’t stack up. 

“The building has stood empty for more than a decade or more before Pendle Council bought it to knock it down.

“There is funding through the government town deal to do something with it but none of the options that have been looked at stack up financially.”

He also raised the fact the plans that had been drawn up would only see the ground floor being accessible, with the basement and first floor only accessible through a hatch in the roof.

Cllr Whipp added: “The other thing is that the building is a grot spot in the heart of Nelson and is in a terrible state, and was in a terrible state before Pendle Council acquired it.

“Pendle Council doesn’t have the resources or the services that we currently operate. To keep the building, we will have to cut other services, and it is a question of priorities.

“It is a blot on the landscape, and it should go.”

The site of the former Nelson Technical School was bought by the council in 2021 with some special funding and was included as part of the Nelson Town Deal along with Pendle Rise.