WORK is well under-way to demolish a former magistrates’ court, ending a battle to save it and turning a page in a town’s history.

The former Lewes Magistrates’ Court is being torn down after it was closed to save money, with the site in Friars Walk controversially due to be used for a Premier Inn hotel.

Vic Ient, a Lewes resident who set up Save Lewes Architecture, said the building’s destruction was a “waste”.

He said: “We had a perfectly serviceable building that could have been used for all sorts of purposes.

“I would have preferred it to be kept in public use, because Lewes is crying out for that.

“But if they have to convert it to a hotel then at least they could have kept it the original building."

“The waste of resources is huge. Everyone is talking about sustainability these days but this is the reverse - all the energy to build it, knock it down, and build it again.”

The court was built by East Sussex County Council and opened in1986 by Princess Diana.

Mr Ient said: “That legacy is now being taken away from us.”

The court was among 93 magistrates courts around the country, including Mid-Sussex, that were closed in 2011 to save £22million.