Bolton West & Atherton MP Chris Green has demanded answers after news that a well-used community hub is to be demolished in a matter of weeks.
The MP campaigned to save Formby Hall in Alder Street after Wigan MBC gave the go ahead for it to be knocked down. Following his intervention, the matter was taken up by the Secretary of State, but the building could not be saved.
Now, Hilldale Housing Association have confirmed that they intend to begin demolition in ‘the next few weeks’.
Chris said: “This will be a sad end to our much-loved and well-used community hub with nothing there to replace it.
“Wigan Council owe the people of Atherton an explanation as to how a building put into trust 100 years ago could ever be knocked down for commercial reasons.”
Formby Hall was sold by the council five years ago – despite being gifted to the people of Atherton by a local philanthropist – and local people argued that the community hub was not the council’s to sell.
A planning application is expected to be submitted soon with proposals to build 14 bungalows on the site.