OUTRAGED conservationists have slammed proposals to flatten an historic architectural feature in the heart of St Annes to make way for new homes.

The Victorian pavilion in Ashton Garden, which overlooks the park's bowling green, could be demolished to make way for a four-storey flat development.

St Annes-based developers Newfield Jones Homes have submitted a conservation area consent application to Fylde Borough Council. They want to demolish the pavilion and build 60 flats next to the park. The development would also mean the demolition of the Plaza Bingo Club on St George's Road.

Conservation group Lytham St Annes Civic Society has lodged objections to the plans.

Chairman Marion Coupe said that the group didn't want to see the pavilion demolished.

"It was designed as a part of the Victorian park. It was designed to give a backdrop to the bowling green. We think it's absolutely disgraceful," she explained.

"This is a time when these parks are being valued more than ever -- there are grants available for urban parks and the council is in the process of applying for lottery money to upgrade parks in St Annes. It just seems totally indefensible at this particular time to knock the pavilion down. The boundary of the flats comes up against the park so not only will it spoil the backdrop to the park and take away a building that was designed as part of it, but having people living there will actually inhibit the privacy of people in the park. This is a public park. It should not be used as a selling point for private housing," she added.

The proposed development is a sheltered housing scheme similar to Newfield Jones' recent Hardacre Court development on Clifton Drive and the one and two-bedroomed apartments would be aimed at over 55s. The scheme would include a parking bay at the rear of the flats for about 30 cars.

Planning officers at Fylde council said that the development would be on the exact site of the Lidl supermarket that was proposed several months ago but finally fell through.

Newfield Jones managing director John Hayfield said that the flats would look out over the park but would not encroach upon it.

"The rear and side elevations will look onto the bowling greens. This will be highly sought-after from a sales point of view. I think objectors have got to be prepared to move with the times. Ashton Institute -- as the pavilion is known -- is really effectively redundant," he said.

"There will be lots of benefits because the new inhabitants will be so close to the Square and this will be good for the regeneration of St Annes town centre. Invariably they will go and spend their money there."

The proposals are expected to be discussed by members of the borough's planning committee in September.