DEMOLITION plans for a former primary school, which is the only listed building in a former pit village, have taken a big step forward.

Members of Easington District Council ignored advice from a planning chief and voted unanimously for the removal of the landmark Easington Colliery Primary School.

The Grade II listed building has stood empty since 1998 and, during the intervening years, has fallen into serious disrepair. It is widely considered a local eyesore.

The large premises, which dominate the village's main Seaside Lane, was bought last July by property developers Westnew Management.

After exhaustive and costly surveys, the company decided that the only way forward was to demolish and construct a housing complex in its place.

But at a meeting of the council this week, the authority's head of planning and building control, Graeme Reed, recommended that the school should not be demolished.

He said the buildings represent an "important architectural and historic feature in the area''. There is insufficient evidence, he said, to consider it to be in poor structural condition or not capable of alternative uses.

In his report, Mr Reed pointed out that bodies such as the Ancient Monuments Society and English Heritage were strongly opposed to its demolition.

English Heritage supports a proposal by the Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust to transform the existing buildings into a community complex.

But Westnew director Tony Mann, who spoke at the meeting, pointed out that the buildings would literally need millions of pounds spending on them and claimed the village was crying out for a residential development which would breathe new life into the ailing coastal community.

His views were given overwhelming backing by residents who attended the meeting, along with district councillors representing the ward.

The council members also supported Westnew's application, voting unanimously for the demolition of the premises.

The application, however, will now be forwarded to the Secretary of State, who will decide whether it should be called in.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Mann said : "We are obviously very pleased with the decision.

" It represents a big step forward for us and for the residents who have suffered this eyesore in their midst since 1999.''

But he conceded that there was still some way to go. "We have won the battle but we still have to win the war."