The historic cricket pavilion in Worcester has been saved after a last-gasp intervention by the city council.
Will Scott, city council principal conservation officer, stunned a packed planning meeting yesterday when he announced a decision to designate the much-loved building and surrounding land as a conservation area.
He spoke as developer SJS Property Management was busy removing part of the roof, but his last-ditch effort ensured the bulldozers will be kept at bay or the company will be taken to court.
It ends a six-week battle to save the structure, on the Cinderella Sports Ground, which was built in 1876.
The black and white timbered building is a major part of the county's sporting heritage and once hosted legendary batsman WG Grace, when it was the home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.
Jubilant campaigner Coun David Clark was bowled over at the verdict.
He said: "All the campaigning has been worthwhile.
"It's our first success in standing up against these developers who have no choice now but to stop their demolition."
The campaign, which attracted great national interest, was backed by many in the city who had fond memories of the halycon days of cricket on Sunday afternoons.
Since 1899 it had been used by the Kays Cricket Team, until it was declared unsafe in September 2005.
The drama took many twists and turns as the developer and protesters battled over the building.
It reached fever pitch when Coun Clarke, after offering the developer £1 to save the pavilion, called on city folk to blockade the entrance to the ground to stop demolition vehicles entering.
Campaigners hopes were raised when Worcestershire Wildlife Trust found evidence of birds nesting in the roof, which would have prevented it being knocked down.
But the developer started to remove parts of the roof, where birds were not nesting, and signalled they were ready to wait until the birds had finished nesting in September.
Now the ruling means the pavilion and surrounding area cannot be changed in any way, including felling trees.
The area includes Richard Smith Horticultural Nurseries, the JF Willis and Cinderella Shoe Factory, Boughton Park and the Boughton Golf and Country Club.
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