The fight to save an historic gasholder has been given a fresh boost as councillors plan to debate the “iconic” structure.

The council gave prior approval to proposals submitted SGN for the demolition of the 130-year-old gasholder in Millenium Way,  subject to a planning application.

A petition to “save” the structure has been backed by more than a thousand people, and councillors deferred a technical decision on Wednesday night that could make the land easier to develop.

The petition started by the Greenwich Industrial History society calls for the structure to be re-purposed – not bulldozed.

Opposition councillors Nigel Fletcher and Geoffrey Brighty, who sit on the planning board, want new leader Danny Thorpe to stop the potential demolition.

Cllr Fletcher said: “There’s been widespread dismay at the fact this iconic symbol of East Greenwich’s industrial history could be lost, and there are serious questions about how we have got into this situation.

“The Council’s own planning guidance recognises its heritage value, and local people rightly expect us to uphold that view and do what we can to save the gas holder”

The council’s own planning brief says “proposals should reflect and respond to the industrial character of the area as a means of relating new developments to the local context.”

Gasholders elsewhere in the country have been maintained by being redeveloped into housing, such as a structure in Kings Cross.

SGN say the Victorian works need to be demolished for safety reasons.

The opposition have now put forward a motion, something that will be debated by councillors next Wednesday.

The motion calls for the council to “require the Leader and Cabinet to take immediate steps to ensure that the adopted planning brief for the Peninsula is upheld, and the proposed demolition is prevented” and “to request an urgent report from the Director of Regeneration on how and why this planning consent was granted.”

Ward councillor Chris Lloyd said earlier this year he wanted to see a more creative solution than just tearing it down, and MP Matthew Pennycook has also said previously that he supported retaining it.