A pub that has been abandoned for nearly two years could be set to be transformed into a nursery.

Plans were last lodged nearly a year ago to transform the old Tempest Arms on Chorley Old Road, Doffcocker into a nursery for children up to the age of two.

Now the latest version of the scheme aims also aims to transform the former pub with a first floor rear extension added.

Cllr Roger Hayes, of Smithills, said: “I think the company that will be running it also run another nursery further down Chorley Old Road and it appears to be an extremely well-run nursery.

“We put leaflets out around asking people what they thought of it but we didn’t get any negative reactions so we wouldn’t have any problem with it.”

The Bolton News: The plans have been put before Bolton CouncilThe plans have been put before Bolton Council (Image: Neil Pike Architecture)

He added: “We know there are issues with the high costs of nursery places recently so I’d hope that another facility like this will help to do something about that.”

The Tempest Arms has been closed since June 2022 after the retirement of its landlord.

It was one of many venues to have failed to survive the pandemic and was one of around 150 pubs across the country to be sold off by pubco owners Admiral Taverns at the time.

The Bolton branch of the Campaign for Real Ale have told Bolton Council’s planning department that though they would rather the pub had endured they have no problem with the nursery plan.

A statement said: “Whilst we would prefer the Tempest to have remained open as a pub, we appreciate that it will continue to serve, albeit in a different way, the local community as it did when it was a pub, so as such we have no objections.”

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The most recent plans were put before Bolton Council on Monday March 4.

The council’s highways department have said that if approval is granted the nursery will have to agree to only open between 7.30am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.

It will not be able to open on weekends or bank holidays.

The authority will aim to decide whether or to approve the scheme by Monday April 29 this year.