HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition protesting against the impending closure of Radcliffe Civic Suite.

An online petition set up last week has been signed more than 300 times by local residents left fuming at plans to demolish the venue to make way for a multi-million pound affordable housing development.

The Radcliffe Times revealed last month that Bury Council is also planning to build a new leisure and entertainment venue on the site of the former Radcliffe Pool, in Green Street, to be completed within three years.

However, many local groups have been left unhappy with the plans to bulldoze the "iconic" building.

The petition reads: "Radcliffe Civic Suite is an iconic, historic and architecturally significant building opened by The Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, in 1974. Radcliffe Civic Suite is of great significance to the town and if properly managed, maintained and run could be a profitable and valuable asset well into the future.

"Radcliffe has suffered more than any town in the metropolitan area from the loss of civic pride, history and identity due to a cycle of decline, cuts, closure and widespread demolition.

"Plans to replace the suite are potentially years away and may never be realised in the current financial climate.

"There is more than sufficient land adjacent to the Civic Suite for the proposed housing development without the need for demolition of the Civic Suite."

Bury Green Party leaders have also expressed their opposition to the closure, and organised a street stall on Saturday to gather views from nearby residents and visitors to the town centre.

Niamh McGarry-Gribbin, co-ordinator of Bury Green Party, said: "There is clearly a strong sense of community spirit among the locals who told us that they had very little trust in the council after being promised a high school for years.

"They feel extremely let down by those in council chambers who represent them as they do not have the interests of the local people in mind. Concerns were raised that the proposed new leisure centre would ever be built at all and questions asked why it cannot be built first to ensure a continued civic venue for everyone to enjoy.

"It is clear from the survey we conducted that the local people oppose the plans to demolish the Civic Suite and build houses on the site. Affordable housing is needed in the area but there are so many other places that need developing as a priority, such as the East Lancashire Mill site.

"The Civic Suite is clearly in constant use as we have seen the itinerary of events. When the council state that the three local civic centres are losing £300,000 how much is that directly attributed to the one in Radcliffe? With imagination, foresight and some groundwork, Radcliffe Civic Suite could be a viable commodity and community asset."

Councillor Rishi Shori, deputy leader of Bury Council, has said that closing the Civic Suite will allow for the best long-term solution and that the council deserves to be trusted after delivering the temporary Radcliffe Leisure Centre, a new bus station, and the refurbished Market Hall.

He added: "People are perfectly entitled to make their opposition to this proposal clear. There is going to be a meeting of Radcliffe Township Forum on November 18 where a presentation will be given on these plans.

"I would urge people to attend to have their say and ask any questions that they want to about the proposals. I will do my best to give as clear and precise an answer as possible."

The Civic Suite is due to close in April, with the council currently carrying out a survey allowing residents to give their suggestions for the new venue. Future events already scheduled for the Civic Suite are in the process of being re-arranged.

An information leaflet on the plans and the survey, open until December 18, are both available at www.bury.gov.uk/radcliffe-regeneration or from Radcliffe Civic Suite, Radcliffe Leisure Centre or Radcliffe Library.