A PETITION to make Formby Hall a community asset will be presented to the chief executive of Wigan Council before the next council meeting.

Members of Atherton Residents Association were out collecting names outside Tesco on Saturday and more than 1,000 people have signed the petition in just over a week since.

Wigan Council has put a protection order on the building which was recently sold to Formby Hall Limited and earmarked for demolition.

The Campaign for Real Ale, which organises the Bent n Bongs Beer Bash at the hall, managed to get the building added to the council's Assets for Community Value list, protecting it for five years.

Former councillor, Norman Bradbury said the petition will be presented to council chief executive Donna Hall on Monday, September 7, before the full council meeting on September 9.

Atherton councillor, Jamie Hodgkinson will put forward a motion at the meeting asking that: “This council will endeavour to fulfil the promise it made to the people of Atherton regarding the Formby Hall, namely that the hall would be protected by the council to ensure it remained available for future public use after it left the ownership of the council, and will use whatever powers available to it to ensure this promise is kept.”

The motion is expected to be seconded by opposition leader, Lowton councillor, James Grundy, who has his own concerns regarding the future of Lowton Civic Hall.

Mr Bradbury said: "This shows just what support there is in the town for its last remaining Community Asset."

Formby Hall was bought by Rose Leisure in March, 2014 for £65,000. It was then bought by Hilldale for £235,000, after which it was transferred to Formby Hall Limited.