Ken Evans, who sits on the society's executive committee, believes the Civic Centre can still have a future as a hub containing the lending library, reference library, coffee shop, meeting rooms, tourist office and information centre.

A study into moving the current library in Walton Street – together with the bus station – has been made a top priority in council-backed Aylesbury Vale Advantage's draft plan.

Mr Evans said his proposal could save taxpayers millions of pounds by recycling an old building rather than constructing something new.

"There is a great deal of support for the Civic Centre, for all its shortcomings people still regard it as quite an iconic, attractive building," he said.

The Civic is being demolished next year to make way for a carpark, while in the long term the site will be used as part of the proposed Waterside shopping scheme.

Aylesbury Vale District Council said saving the Civic was 'not an option'.

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