A major hurdle to the demolition of doomed Coseley baths has been removed after bosses were granted a licence to bulldoze the building.

Chiefs were waiting for permission from Natural England after a colony of 20 bats was found roosting in the roof space. A European Protect Species Licence “to allow demolition of the building to continue” has been approved.

The news is a body blow to protesters fighting to save the pool in Pear Tree Lane. They had hoped the colony would secure a stay of execution for the baths. Their campaign will now hinge on possible legal action against the council.

Cabinet member for environment and culture Councillor David Stanley said: “Natural England has granted the council the European Protected Species Licence to allow demolition of the building to continue.

“The council is carrying out the work in conjunction with a consultant ecologist, we are in the decommissioning stage.”

Councillor Stanley added the bats had now left the building.

“The building is empty at the moment,” he said.

If Natural England had not been satisfied with the council’s licence application demolition could have been delayed indefinitely.