A CAMPAIGN to save the iconic Round Tower on the A556 is gathering momentum on social media after it was pulled down for safety reasons following a crash last night, Thursday.

Worried Cuddington and Sandiway residents have taken to Facebook and Twitter after the landmark was hit by a red Vauxhall Corsa, driven by a 50-year-old woman, on the A556 at around 9.15pm on Thursday night.

Facebook group ‘Rebuild the Round Tower’ gained more than 300 members within three hours of being formed.

Jennifer Oates posted: “It’s become, quite rightly, a very emotive topic and I think that’s because the residents are very proud of their heritage.

“The Tower was such an iconic landmark of Sandiway and Cuddington. Young and old marvelled at its beauty and it was a talking point of anyone who drove past it.

“It would be a travesty if it was not given the greatest consideration for a rebuild, using as much of the raw material as possible.”

Carol Watts added: “Feelings are running high. The Round Tower is (was) an iconic monument and it needs rebuilding as soon as humanly possible."

Cheshire West and Chester attempted to ease residents’ fears, saying public safety was their main concern, they tweeted: “@Go_CheshireWest Our teams are already planning reconstruction of the tower on the A556 and we always pursue costs from drivers’ insurance companies.

“Public safety is our priority and the damage to the Round Tower on A556 was far more than cosmetic damage.”

A third of the structure was destroyed in the collision, declared unsafe and demolished overnight, with the driver suffering minor injuries and said to have been treated at Leighton Hospital.

Zak Laming said on Facebook: “Surprised the decision was made to pull this down. You'd expect that the damage had rendered the tower totally unsafe and irreparable.

“It's hard to tell from the pics but the damage didn't look irreparable. Perhaps it's health and safety gone mad or just an ill informed decision. Irrespective, surely worth saving.”

Group creator Michael Howroyd added, “I'm determined the stone is intercepted before being landfilled, so that it can be assessed for the rebuild.”