A “dangerous” former pub building that was targeted by arsonists could be knocked down.

The owners of the former Stocksman pub, Hopes Auction Ltd, have asked Allerdale council for permission to pull down the dilapidated building that was set alight the week before Christmas.

If the plans are approved, it will please members of the public, who’ve branded the remnants of the former Wigton drinking spot an eyesore.

In planning documents submitted to the council, Hopes said: “The building has been subject to an arson attack and Allerdale council has classified the building as dangerous. It needs to be removed and the site made safe as soon as possible.”

Nearby residents who witnessed the fire, reported flames engulfing the building with fire crews from Wigton, Aspatria and Carlisle tackling the blaze for about two hours.

Immediately following the incident, watch manager Martin Smith who’d been in charge of the response, said there had been “significant damage” caused to the inside of the building.

The application for demolition has also reignited the debate about how the site should be used in the future, with civic leaders believing it could be crucial in helping to regenerate the town.

However, The Cumberland News understands the location’s long-term future is still to be decided.

The whole town centre site has mainly laid empty since the firm moved to its new multi-million pound auction mart premises along Syke Road about three years ago.

The site had been earmarked by Tesco as a location for a new supermarket but the retail giant performed a U-turn in late 2014 leaving the future of the former auction mart unknown.

Roger Liddle, the town’s representative on Cumbria County Council, said he’s pushing for a meeting with Hopes chiefs.

“I am writing to the chief executive of Hopes about their plans for the auction mart site,” he explained.

“My view is that Hopes has been a big factor in Wigton life for a century or more.

“The community has benefited from their economic success, but they also owe their success to Wigton and the farmers in the surrounding area. It should consult local people before it rushes ahead with any plans.

“I am asking for a meeting with Hopes to discuss their ideas.”

Mr Liddle continued: “I do not think local people want another supermarket. What is needed, in my view, is affordable housing near the town centre.

“But these are only my views. Hopes should be prepared to listen to their local community – and I underline ‘their’.”

Richard Mattinson, who heads up the town’s chamber of trade, said any new development should help to increase footfall.

“From the chamber of trade’s perspective, we’d be happy to see any development that benefited the look of the centre of Wigton,” he said.

“Ideally it would have the added benefit of increasing footfall in the town centre, but whether this is by an additional retail development, a leisure development or an increase in housing for the town centre or a mixture of these is as yet unclear.

“We look forward to seeing proposals when they are submitted.”

A spokesman for the Wigton Civic Society said: “As a society, we should stress that it is a unique opportunity to do more than build new houses or supermarkets.

“We feel both the district council and county council ought to be taking an interest in order to promote potential prosperity by encouraging business in some way.

“As a civic society we have not been ignoring what could be done.”

He added: “Before any permission is given for the obvious potential for the site to be developed with housing we believe there needs to be a full discussion about all the options and the town’s priorities.

“It will be all too easy for Allerdale council to proceed with, and approve, the first application coming its way but without some future vision for the town and an analysis of all its needs.”

A formal consultation into the application for demolition ends next Friday.