A BID to save the Old Memorial Hospital in Cirencester from being knocked down to make way for parking spaces has failed.

Cotswold District Council's (CDC) cabinet voted to tear down the long-standing building in April to make way for 19 parking spaces, as part of a wider scheme to bring a multi-storey car park to the hospital, Old Station or Waterloo car park sites.

Following the vote, town resident Luke Wolton applied to have the hospital registered as a listed building through Historic England, but learnt a few weeks ago that his attempts had been unsuccessful.

“I thought it was going to be a long shot," admitted Luke, 32, who works at St James's Place.

"I just felt it was a waste to get rid of a building like that for just 19 parking spaces. The building could’ve been renovated and used for many other things.

"I haven’t lived here all my life, so I can’t claim to have too much sentimental feeling towards the hospital itself."

CDC's decision came after ongoing frustration over the stretched parking availability in the town.

Luke said the process was ‘tricky’ because it required sending in photos of the building and he could only “supply pictures from the internet.”

“I could only get hold of exterior photos,” he said, “but I know, for example, there’s the staircase inside which was donated by an American after the First World War and they really wanted photos of that."

Luke said: “[Historic England] came back with a few questions and I did a write-up of why I felt it should be listed.”

However, despite his efforts, the application was quickly rejected.

“They came back to me to say I had been unsuccessful.

"Apparently it had been considered as a joint application with one for the air raid shelter, and both were rejected unfortunately.”

Luke, who has lived in the town for five years but worked there for 10, said he attended the event at the Old Station building in July, which he described as “falling apart".

"The ceilings are coming down, it’s dangerous and will be left to rot if the council don’t step in.".

He said buildings like the Old Station and The Memorial Hospital could be renovated and “used for the good of the community,” rather than just a “few extra parking spaces.”

Speaking at the CDC meeting in April, deputy leader Nicholas Parsons had admitted there was a shortage of parking in Cirencester and said £75,000 had been set aside to get a private company in to look at how the three sites could be developed for more parking.

He said removing the old hospital building would ‘remove uncertainty’ for any private companies looking at the town’s parking.

The hospital first opened its doors in 1875, but the main part of the building has been empty since early 2013 and keeping it safe has been a drain on council funds.