PLANS to demolish Bingley’s former courthouse have been criticised over fears part of the town’s history could be forever lost.

Cottingley-based Cox 22 Ltd bought the premises, in Bradford Road, which includes the town’s one-time police station, earlier this year.

At the time, director Donald Jaggar, who lives in the town, said several possible options were being considered for the prime plot, including luxury apartments and commercial units.

But he said considerable work would be needed to restore the property as it had fallen into a “very poor” state of repair and would require gutting due to its “awful” condition.

The sale of the building was welcomed after anger was voiced at the amount of public money being spent on ‘maintaining’ the empty building.

Now plans have been lodged with Bradford Council to raze the building, prompting a number of objections from locals.

Audrey Gledhill, of Eldwick, wrote: “I strongly object to the former police station being demolished.

“Another beautiful building would disappear from the town which is fast becoming a Bingley I hardly recognise anymore.”

While Don Wood, of Bingley, said the buildings appear “worthy of preservation”.

And Mel Frances, of Riddlesden, Keighley, added: “Bingley will soon be a town of modern supermarkets without character.

“The demolition of an historic building like this would be a disgrace.

“Towns need to celebrate and use their heritage, not destroy it.”

Another objector, Roman Krol, of Bingley, said: “The buildings offer a unique historic value to the centre of Bingley.

“They are a significant element of the town’s heritage, which is irreplaceable.

“The facade (as a minimum) should be preserved for current and future generations.”

The comment added: “The council should prevent a beautiful, historical building being replaced by anonymous, bland modernity.”

While Liz Richmond, of Bingley, said: “We should be keeping the town’s heritage and buildings and we certainly don’t want to end up like Bradford and in a few years time regretting knocking all the old lovely buildings down.”

The demolition application, submitted by Thomas Crompton Limited, says the building is in poor repair inside. When asked to provide details of the proposed restoration of the site, it says: "At this stage we have no full details, we believe housing.”

Cox 22 Ltd was approached for a comment.