BOLTON MP David Crausby has praised the council for showing “courage” and changing its plans to refurbish Bolton Town Hall.

Mr Crausby has now called on the authority not to build a student campus on land behind Le Mans Crescent.

Last week, planning chiefs approved revised plans to upgrade the Grade II* listed building — creating a cafe-bar, updated wedding facilities and a new disabled access.

This came after the council withdrew a controversial scheme which included a plan to cut into the building’s front facade to create a cafe and restaurant with outdoor seating areas.

One of the many voices to speak out against that vision was Bolton North East MP David Crausby, who has now praised the authority for its rethink.

He said: “The important thing is that we do the right thing, what really matters about all of this is that we protect, probably the best town hall in the country.

“It is a magnificent building — I have been critical about many aspects of the town centre but not about that — it is something that we should really look after and I am very pleased that the council has had the courage to change their minds, so I congratulate them on making the right decision.”

The MP has locked horns with Bolton Council in the past regarding the town centre but maintains that a new approach is needs, which includes scrapping an initial idea to build accommodation for the University of Bolton on land behind Le Mans Crescent.

He said: “I think there are lots of things that can be done as far as the town centre is concerned.

“In the long-term I think we need more green space in our town centre.

“Shopping has changed and if our town centres are going to survive they will have to change as well and I think they need to be seen as very pleasant places to go.

“That is why protecting the beauty of the town hall is so important and also why we shouldn’t do anything to the space behind Le Mans Crescent.

He added: “I am very much in favour of students in the town centre, but not there — there isn’t much green space, so to put an inappropriate building there would be wrong.”

Bolton Council has previously said that it is nothing has been decided regarding the Cheadle Square proposals and it is prepared to consider a range of options.