PLANNING officers will have to explain to councillors on Thursday, a retrospective planning application to demolish a Listed Building in Birkenhead. For waterfront Bath Cottages, 2 to 3 Esplanade, in Rock Ferry Conservation Area, have already been demolished.

Bath Cottages dated back to the town's beginnings in 1835, a neo classical single storey building once used by sailors alighting from vessels on the Mersey.

However, modern day wreckers, thieves and vandals took their toll on the building when it became vacant. Local residents expressed concern Bath Cottages had become dangerous and that children were using the buildings as a playground.

The Director of Planning, reluctantly, agreed to the owners demolishing the property, although this has upset other residents, Rock Ferry Park Conservation Trust, and the Royal Mersey Yacht Club.

They think the building was allowed to get into a sad state despite a petition to the council calling for its protection.

English Heritage also thinks the council should have been more protective, as does the Georgian Society. Thursday's planning committe is expected to advise the Secretary of State of the retrospective demolition.

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