BOROUGH councillors will tonight argue to stop developers demolishing a slice of Knutsford's history.

They are expected to tell Egerton Estates to save a 264-year-old wall that is now crumbling.

Church builder Edmund Sharpe was born in the old Brook Street house, which is now under threat, and a plaque is still embedded in the wall as proof that it was built in 1738.

Last week, though, town councillors recommended it be demolished after accusing the developers of neglecting the building. "The developers left the old faade to stand all on its own," said Clr Val Boston-Davies.

"The weather has gotten to it and it's now in no state to be incorporated."

Clr George Walton added: "It is no surprise because it has been left to stand for two winters.

"I agree it should be knocked down but the original date stone should be incorporated in a suitable manner." But Macclesfield's planning officers want it to be saved. In a report they said it was part of the town's heritage and accused Egerton Estates of failing to meet planning conditions.

"Its (the wall) retention has always been considered to be an important element of the redevelopment of the site," they said.

"Any deterioration in its structural stability or historic character is largely due to the fact that conditions attached to the original consents have not been satisfied." A spokesman for the Alderley Edge-based builders say the building will crumble if they do not get planning permission to demolish it safely.