CAMPAIGNERS say they have been ‘caught off-guard’ following the opening into the public inquiry to decide the fate of Formby Hall.

Residents believed they would be able to put forward their case after more than 5,000 people signed a petition to save the hall ahead of the inquiry opening at Wigan Town Hall today, Wednesday.

However it was revealed it was not within the council’s planning committee remit to decide whether the hall should or should not be demolished.

A statement from Wigan Council said: "Such an application was made to Wigan Council in respect of Formby Hall.

"Due to, amongst other things, the proximity of residential properties to the site the council considered that prior approval was required to ensure the method of demolition and any restoration of the site were, in planning terms, acceptable.

"These were the two issues the council's planning committee was asked to consider and indeed were the only two issues they could consider.

"These two issues are now the only issues for this inquiry to consider.

"It was not within the committee’s remit, and it is not within the inquiry’s remit, to consider whether Formby Hall should, or should not be, demolished."

But Stuart Gerrard, chairman of Atherton Residents Association, said: "They have caught us a bit off-guard saying this is just discussing the demolition.

"Obviously all the evidence in our favour is regarding the sale of the building but public opinion is being dismissed.

"We were under the impression everything was going to be discussed so we hope that we can still talk about the sale but we do have some matters to discuss about demolition procedures, so now we will just have to see how it goes.

"We knew that the demolition will be be discussed but what we were hoping to discuss was the sale of Formby Hall and we thought that would be brought in as well.

"The planning inspector did say that people can bring in other things for clarification but at the moment we are just going to have to keep fighting the good fight."

The application for the popular civic venue to be demolished was approved by Wigan Council at a planning meeting on January 19, but the Rt Hon Greg Clark, secretary of state for communities and local government, ‘called in’ the application the following day.

As a result the Government and not the local authority will decide whether developers Formby Hall Limited and Hilldale Housing will be given the go-ahead for plans to knock down the hall and build a nursing home and flats for independent supported living at the Atherton site.

The Government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning appeals and examinations of local plans, will now have the final say after taking on board all submissions made in the public inquiry.

A statement from the Planning Inspectorate said: “Following the close of the inquiry the inspector, having heard all the evidence both for and against the proposals, will prepare a report and recommendations which will be sent to the Secretary of State for his consideration. The Secretary of State will then make the final decision.”

Residents’ objections include that the building is listed as an ‘asset of community value’, as well as concerns over the impact on neighbouring properties from dust, debris and known asbestos, and on surrounding roads and businesses.

Mr Gerrard previously told the Journal: “It is only right that a building that was left to the people should have its own future decided by the people.

“We have seen so many rules broken that the council have set themselves namely within their own core strategy.

“I am hoping that the inquiry will come down on the side of common sense.”