Dozens have given their backing to the demolition of Central Library after a last-ditch plea for a u-turn.

Supporters of John Madin’s most famous work made an impassioned call for what they says is an example of Birmingham’s “exemplary post-war” buildings to be saved.

Despite work already having started to knock down the prominent building, a group of Madin enthusiasts have asked for time to launch a fresh bid to list – and, hence, safeguard – the building.

But it largely fell on deaf ears on social media, with dozens taking to Facebook, Twitter and birminghampost.co.uk calling for the library to be levelled.

On the Post’s Facebook page, all but three of the 29 comments supported demolition.

Keith Martin Perks said: “It is a horrid building we need to move forward with the times not live in the past move on and let's make Birmingham the city it's meant to be!”

Gregory Taylor added: “Get a grip! It’s an absolute eye sore the sooner it's gone the better.”

Sophia Singh said: “Knock it down! Depressing concrete eye sore.”

MORE: John Madin buildings being razed to the ground

The call to keep the library was made by a group in a letter to this week’s Birmingham Post.

They want a moratorium on the £500 million Paradise development so a fresh application can be lodged to consider the former library for listed status.

Central Library shut in June 2013 ahead of the opening of the new £188 million Library of Birmingham a few weeks later and earlier this month roads were closed so demolition work could start on Madin’s landmark building.

Among those to sign it were Alan Clawley, author and secretary of the Friends of the Central Library, Dr Barnabas Calder, from the University of Liverpool’s school of architecture, Oliver Wainwright, Guardian architecture and design correspondent, and the World Monuments Fund.

It stated: “John Madin’s distinctive building remains under imminent threat of demolition....there is clear evidence of a growing appreciation of Brutalist architecture.

“Inevitably, as history tells us, people will demand to know why this short-sighted plan was ever allowed to take place.”

A CGI of plans for the Paradise scheme

However, DaveinBrum said on the Post's website: “Ridiculous. If it was in an out-of-the-way location, maybe, but as others have said it’s not just that it’s a horrendously ugly building, but it’s also slap bang in the way between two parts of the city.”

A commentator called stpa added: “This is the ugliest building in the UK and gives an incredibly bad impression to visitors.”

Jake1993 added: “Oh please... Tear the eyesore down before people get in the way of progress!”

However, DenzilBaker said: “If this building is demolished it will be another and possibly the biggest mistake Birmingham has made in its sorry catalogue of bulldozer mentality ‘redevelopment’ of the city centre.”

The final Paradise project is expected to be completed in the mid-2020s and will house eight office buildings and a new hotel.

Once demolition of Central Library is completed next year – itself delayed by several months – construction work will start on the first two buildings – One and Two Chamberlain Square.