A LAST-ditch plea has been made by a campaigning city councillor to the owner of a historic cricket pavilion to save it from the bulldozers.

Councillor David Clark's letter to Arndale Properties - which owns the pavilion in Cinderella Ground off Bransford Road -- comes less than 24 hours after the developer moved on site to being demolishing the structure.

There was a standoff between the Councillor and several protestors against the developer SJS Property Managment at the site on Monday morning but, in a twist to the tale, conservationists found nesting birds in the roof which prevents part of it being demolished. However it is believed the developer began removing part of the roof where the birds are not nesting, which is allowed under law.

Coun Clark sent the letter yesterday to Arndale in a last-ditch attempt to save the building, arguing he did not believe its agents SJS Property Management had kept it informed of what was going on. He is also planning to contact the Health and Safety Executive amid rumours there is asbestos in the building.

In the letter he asks Arndale to justify its actions and hand the pavilion to them to restore. He said: "I can't see what else we can do -- this is the last throw of the dice as such."

Coun Clark previously offered £1 for the pavilion but said his offer was ignored.

SJS wants to build homes on the factory site next door while bulldozing the pavilion, despite having no plans to build on land it occupies. SJS bosses were unavailable for comment.