Campaigners fighting the demolition of Birmingham Central Library have been accused of "deluding themselves" if they think the building is worth saving.
The warning came from the Birmingham Civic Society, which says the 1970s building in Paradise Forum is fit only for the bulldozer.
Glynn Pitchford, a Civic Society vice-chairman, said he fully supported a city council proposal to tear down the library building as part of a £1 billion scheme to redevelop all of Paradise Circus.
Cash from the sale of land where the Central Library now stands would go towards the £193 million cost of building a combined library and Repertory Theatre in Centenary Square by 2013.
The idea has angered supporters of the Central Library, who want the building listed and protected from demolition. The Friends of the Central Library pressure group believes the library could be modernised and extended at a fraction of the cost of providing a new building.
But Mr Pitchford said the library had to go in order to transform the area around Paradise Circus.
He added: "We really do want to see the existing library demolished and under no circumstances retained.
"Those concerning themselves with the possibility of the listing of this building are deluding themselves as, in our view, there is no justification whatsoever for a possible listing, the existing library complex being devoid of any historic or architectural merit."
His comments were rejected by rival conservationists the 20th Century Society.
Eva Ling, a spokeswoman for the Birmingham branch, described the Central Library as a "superb" building.
Mrs Ling added: "It is iconic, it works well,
it is user-friendly and it was designed so that it would be extended at a future date."
An attempt to have the Central Library listed several years ago failed after the Government ruled the John Madin-designed building was not worthy of special protection.
In recent weeks, Birmingham City Council has applied to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for an immunity from listing certificate, effectively clearing the way for demolition.
Mrs Ling said she believed English Heritage
had in the past recommended listing the library, but the recommendation was turned down by the Government after "political pressure" was applied by Birmingham City Council.
She said: "We are keeping our fingers crossed that on this occasion the library will be listed."
Mr Pitchford said the Civic Society hoped to play an active role in advising the council on the redevelopment of Paradise Circus.
He added: "What we will be saying is that this is very much a civic location and the buildings need to be of civic proportions. We have asked an architect to explore the possibility of extending the classic buildings in Colmore Row and to develop something not dissimilar to Brindleyplace.
"What we want are high quality buildings in stone. It would be an extension of Colmore Row into Paradise Circus. For God's sake, let's get the existing library pulled down and have it replaced in a neo-classical style."
Last week, the Birmingham Post revealed the architect who designed Birmingham Central Library believes city council plans to demolish the building are being driven by "commercial greed" rather than genuine cultural concerns.
John Madin spoke out after a council scrutiny committee heard the 34-year-old building would have to be flattened for the redevelopment of Paradise Circus.
