A historic Nelson building is set for partial demolition, using almost the entirety of the town's remaining Town Deal funding.
Trafalgar House, near Nelson Town Hall, was discussed at an executive board meeting on October 31 as part of a regeneration option intended to complement other town centre changes.
A report issued at a previous committee outlined how the building would either be partially or fully demolished after no viable uses could be found.
The demolition work is estimated at £444,705, with construction costs at £565,988, and new parking facilities, including six electric vehicle charging stations, at £200,000.
This brings the total to £1,340,693, leaving a remaining £274,306 from the overall Town Deal funding allocated to Nelson.
The partial demolition relates to retaining and refurbishing the front portion of the building, including commercial use at ground floor level, with both options allowing for cleared ground to be used for car parking and outdoor market.
Deputy leader Councillor David Whipp was in favour of full demolition and explained that to maintain the building it would cost the council £25,000 a year.
He said: “Putting my hard finance hat on, Pendle Council couldn’t risk having to find £25,000 a year to have the building in future.
“As much as I respect the desire to retain heritage buildings, the very tight finances as they are, having a potential white elephant in the middle of Nelson would mean services have to be cut elsewhere.”
The building has 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.
It was also 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 £3 million.
Following the previous executive board meeting, Cllr Ash Sutcliffe, who represents the Waterside and Horsfield ward, started a petition to save the site, which gathered more than 600 signatures.
He said: “The meeting felt like it was already a done deal, and they didn’t listen to the people who signed the petition or in the room which is disappointing.
“There was no appetite to pursue the building being kept completely and the decision was made before the meeting.
"Again the Liberal Democrats pursued a complete demolition which to me is outrageous and disgusting.
“The main thing that people are angry about is because it is greed, because the money is there to spend on restoring the building and to demolish it is short-sighted."
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 shopping centre.
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