It comes after Ashfield District Council's Planning Committee said they wanted more time to consider Persimmon Homes application to pull down the structures as part of a housing development earmarked for the ex-pit site.

• Plans to demolish pit headstocks

Persimmon wants to erect a miners' memorial to replace the headstocks, while a doctors' surgery, pharmacy, shops and a heritage park have also been proposed.

A report by council officers claimed the scheme would be a satisfactory compromise to make up for loss of the headstocks.

And Annesley and Felley Parish Council had unanimously agreed not to oppose the demolition after an extensive public consultation, while it also highlighted the need for more medical services in the area.

In a letter to planners, the parish council said 'in an ideal world' it would want the headstocks to be retained –– but conceded this would not be possible because it would cost around £500,000 simply to repair the structures.

And Annesley district councillor Tony Theaker –– who is not on the committee and did not vote on the matter –– told the meeting that he shared the parish council's views.

"During the best part of a year, no agency has been forthcoming to fund the restoration," he said. "How long will it be before there is no choice but to take the headstocks down because they are structurally unsound?"

But Mark Harrison, a former Green member of the council for the ward, said very few colliery headstocks remained in the country and claimed Annesley's was of a unique design.

"It is paramount to keep the headstocks intact for future generations," he said. "The site also has protected wildlife species like bats and barn owls.

"The headstocks are a memorial to all the men who were employed at the pit, including those who died while working there."

Objections to the demolition came from people as far afield as Chester, Nuneaton, Tamworth and Rotherham.

Speaking on behalf of Persimmon, Paul Hunt urged the committee to give the go-ahead for the demolition –– saying the firm had waited for funders to come forward to restore the area, but that this had not happened.

And he said the 'large and frankly unattractive' headstocks would be out of keeping with the proposed new homes.

"They would have an overbearing effect and could not be protected from the attention of children or from vandalism," he said. "The memorial would be far more appropriate in the context of the development."

Members were told that English Heritage had put in an objection, but failed to use powers at their disposal to make the headstocks a listed building.

However, Persimmon was given the go-ahead to build 188 homes on the former pit site, together with garages, parking, roads and public open space.