A CAMPAIGNER fighting to protect an historic school building has slammed county council chiefs for turning their backs on the building.

Coun Derek Brindle, says Lancashire County Council has left the former Moorland Lower School in Darwen to rot away.

Two years after the classrooms were vacated, the imposing Victorian building has fallen prey to vandals and thieves who have ripped out floorboards and the central heating system.

Coun Brindle is furious over the state of the building and blames Lancashire County Council for neglecting it.

He also claims the council has done nothing to attract a buyer for the listed building.

Coun Brindle, who spearheaded the Darwen Against Demolition Campaign to protect the school, said: "The school dates from 1893 and is part of the heritage of Darwen.

"The county council was all for demolishing the building after it was vacated two years ago but 5,000 Darwen residents put their name to a petition against it.

"We saved the building from the bulldozers but since then it has just been left to rot."

A previous bid to secure the future of the building by converting it into self-contained flats fell at the last hurdle when Crowther Homes withdrew their £100,000 bid last year. The building has gone back on the market this week.

Coun Brindle added: "Why has it taken a year for the county council to invite new tenders for the building and why have they let it get into the state it has done if they are serious about selling it?

"Because of the state the building is in and the fact the Lancashire County Council haven't advertised it widely there doesn't seem to be much hope of it selling."

A spokeswoman for Lancashire County Council said: "The building is being offered for sale by tender and the opportunity has been taken to prepare new sales details which reflect the fact that the building now enjoys conservation area status."

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