A leading councillor has assured campaigners looking to save a former bus shelter in Morecambe that "no decision has been made" to demolish it.
Councillor Martin Bottoms said that although prior approval had been granted to knock down the former bus station waiting room on Central Drive, "no contractors have been appointed to undertake any demolition of that building".
He was speaking after supporters of plans to convert the shelter into a youth, Armed Forces veterans and canine academy spoke out at a Lancaster City Council meeting.
Residents backing Ubique K-9 Frontline CIC's plans for the building, called for a decision on demolition to be paused so their proposals could be looked at.
The city council planning regulatory committee had voted in favour of prior approval for demolition of the shelter, at a meeting on Tuesday September 1.
"The building has attracted issues in terms of crime and antisocial behaviour and is no longer considered a safe space for young to gather," said the planning application.
Gail Thomas, one of those to speak at Wednesday night's meeting at Morecambe Town Hall, said: "Please give it a chance to have a future.
"Yes it has deteriorated and it has attracted anti-social behaviour. But demolition is permanent. I believe we should consider an alternative.
"This is not a request for Lancaster City Council to fund the project.
"It would turn a building that has had problems into something that provides genuine community benefit. It could once again become an asset for Morecambe."
She said it could teach young people about animal welfare and responsible dog ownership.
Councillor Bottoms (below), cabinet member for Morecambe regeneration and the local economy, said: "No decision has been made that the building is to be demolished.
"The council would look to work with (Ubique). There are many, many empty properties in Morecambe that may be better suited to (the proposals) but we will be looking at the proposals on the table right now."
Afghanistan veteran Christopher Soden from Ubique launched an online petition at Change.org in August, saying the shelter has "the potential to become an immediate lifeline - a dedicated frontline hub for veteran crisis support alongside a free canine training, public safety handling, and raw nutrition centre".
Mr Soden wants to open a new hub in Morecambe supporting Forces veterans with PTSD by partnering them with rescue dogs.
He said the dogs will act as teachers and partners, taking veterans through an intensive 28-day course focusing on auxiliary aids and medical assistance tasks, while providing a safe sanctuary for the rescue dogs to decompress and a vocational pathway for their futures.
The talks at the Lancaster City Council meeting came after Morecambe Town Council last week demanded that the city council halt plans to demolish the former bus station waiting room; criticised the process leading to the demolition decision and unanimously called for Lancaster City Council to work with the town council and the local community to explore alternatives.
Read more: Councillors call for halt to demolition of vandalised Morecambe 'youth hut' - Beyond Radio
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