ONE of Westbury's oldest industrial heritage sites is to be knocked down and replaced by a block of flats.

Developer Bellacre Properties has been given permission to demolish the dilapidated mill building at Bitham Mill, despite being accused of deliberately making the site unsafe.

Planners reluctantly agreed to let Bellacre tear down the building in Alfred Street at a West Wiltshire District Council meeting last week.

The decision followed an inspection in March that showed the building, Block H, was in an advanced stage of disrepair. Its roof had collapsed, and its structure was deteriorating rapidly. After another block was demolished, a structural engineer confirmed the entire internal structure of Block H had failed.

In May, the district council was told the building would have to be demolished. The only option would be to invite the owners to submit a planning application to build a replica by salvaging materials from the ruins.

Features of the original building will be re-used to build residential flats.

English Heritage, the Ancient Monuments Society and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings said they regretted the loss of the block and underlined the importance of its reconstruction.

Cllr Gordon King said: "I think the developer should be made to restore its condition. I'm absolutely disgusted by everything that's happened."

Local residents and Cllr Marian Clegg have questioned Bellacre's motives, alleging that they damaged the block when the building behind it was demolished.

Cllr John Annetts said: "It's a crying shame. We'll never get a building like this again.

"However, we've got to this point now and, even though the developer can't be trusted, I move to recommend the proposals as there is nothing else we can possibly do with this site."

Permission was given with 11 conditions, including access for conservation experts to record the development's progress.

Gary Worsfold, from William Lester Architects, agents for Bellacre, said: "The demolition process was agreed by councillors. The structure suffered a collapse and we tried to save it, but it was in an extremely poor state.

"We regret the loss of the building, but our hands were tied because it was classified as a dangerous structure."

The district council has now written to the Secretary of State for permission to carry out the demolition work.