Town councillors could appeal after their plans to flatten Shifnal Magistrates’ Court and build homes in its place hit the buffers.

Shifnal Town Council applied for permission to put up a pair of semi-detached two-bedroom homes and a pair of two-bedroom flats by demolishing the 166-year-old building.

But at a Shropshire Council area regulatory committee meeting in Bridgnorth yesterday, councillors backed a recommendation for refusal by planning officer Mike Clough.

Committee chairman Councillor Stuart West, who represents Shifnal, said today: “I cannot comment too much because I am the chairman of the committee, but of course the town council has the right to appeal against the decision.

“There is a meeting of the council tomorrow night and, although the magistrates’ court is not on the agenda, I am sure it will be discussed in great detail.

“After that we will know a lot more about the next steps.”

Campaigners who had collected a 1,000 name petition in a bid to save the court from the bulldozer hailed yesterday’s decision as a victory.

They are now considering approaching English Heritage in a bid to get it listed to protect the court from future applications for development.

Shropshire Council’s Shifnal member, Councillor Gordon Tonkinson, who spoke against the plans at the meeting, said: “We have fought long and hard for the building to stay.

“This site is something very special. It is 166 years old and it has been neglected by two councils for the best part of 30 years.

“It is a dereliction of duty the building has been allowed to fall into this state, but we cannot put that right by allowing it to be demolished.

“I have asked preservation group, English Heritage, if it can be listed. The town council already have permission to convert the building into three flats with offices and commercial use and they should be looking to sell it for that purpose.”

Planning officer Mr Clough said there was strong opposition to demolishing the old court and that the proposals would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area.

By Wayne Beese