STOURPORT campaigners have failed in their bid to safeguard the future of the town's Civic Centre after an application to give the building listed status failed.

Members of Stourport Civic Society were told by English Heritage, which works on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the New Road landmark did not meet the national criteria.

They are now worried the Civic Centre, which was built in 1966, could be demolished under Wyre Forest District Council's plans to move all administration to a single site.

Inspectors stated in their report that although the building was an "intrinsically sound representative of its era" they did not believe it was of "sufficient architectural or historical interest, in a national context, to merit listing".

They did add the Civic Centre, which is owned by the council, was an "important landmark" that "contributes to the diversity of architectural forms visible in the conservation area."

Pauline Annis, chairman of Stourport Civic Society, admitted she was disappointed by the decision.

She explained: "It is a shame because the building is now under threat but we are pleased the report said the building was important to the town because that is the case.

"All we can do now is campaign locally to try and make the council understand the strength of feeling for the Civic Centre."

Stourport councillors, Jill Fairbrother Millis, who sits on the district and county councils, and June Salter both believed the building would be the best for a single site.

Mrs Fairbrother Millis said: "I am disappointed the building will not be listed but am pleased the inspectors recognised the significance of it to the town.

"If there is to be a single site then it should be in Stourport and money should be spent to bring the Civic Hall back to the standard it deserves because it has been neglected by past administrations."

Mrs Salter, who represents the Mitton ward, explained: "If there is to be a single site it must be in Stourport. I have promised not to support the proposals if it costs the tax-payer in Wyre Forest one penny."

Independent consultants are currently investigating options for where a council single site could be placed.

Councillor John Campion, the council's cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, said the Civic Centre was one of the options being considered.

He added: "The decision not to list the building gives us more options because if the application was successful our hands would have been tied."

The consultation process is expected to finish early in the new year. The council will make a decision after the report has been published.