CAMPAIGNERS are rallying in a bid to save a Victorian house from demolition.

Riversdale Lodge at Sir John Deane’s College, known to past and present students as the language block, is set to be knocked down within weeks as part of the college’s redevelopment.

Residents are battling for a stay of execution for the building, which was thought to have been built in the 1840s for the Thompson family, who were prominent in Northwich’s salt industry.

John Normanton, a property development consultant who lives in The Crescent, said: “In a nutshell I think it’s vandalism to demolish it.”

Clr Helen Weltman has been investigating a number of options through Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) but has drawn a blank so far because demolition of the building was in the college’s original planning application some years ago, it is not a listed building and is not within a conservation area.

She said: “It’s a bit of a tragedy really, if we had picked up on it in the original planning application we could have saved it and used it as a community building.”

She added: “It’s such a shame because so many buildings in Northwich have gone without much thought and this is another one.”

John said: “We want a 12-month stay of execution to work with the college, to form a committee and see what use could be found for the building.

“It’s too easy for us to say ‘don’t do that, we don’t like it’, so we’re trying to be positive.”

Over the past three years the college has undergone a £28million redevelopment project to ensure it has some of the finest facilities available for local students.

When the redevelopment plans were originally drawn up, the college explained that much time and effort was taken to consider all the options and expert advice was sought from architects and specialist property consultants.

This particular building, formerly used by the language department, was not listed and deemed not up to the standards required for educational use, and was therefore earmarked for replacement within the redevelopment scheme.

The college is currently on its summer break but a spokesman told the Guardian that the proposal formed part of the original redevelopment plans and has therefore been in the public domain for several years – during which time it has been subject to scrutiny and approved by the local planning authority.

As part of the planning process Sir John Deane’s College also consulted widely with neighbours, the local community and stakeholders.

As the Guardian went to press yesterday, Tuesday, residents were also trying to find out if bats lived in the house.

What do you think about the house being demolished? Leave your comments below.