PLANS for a ninth bar in Farnworth's main street has brought a cry of "enough is enough".

Cllr James Lord wants to call time on the proposals claiming the area is already saturated with pubs, clubs and bars.

Developer Sprint Property Finance has revealed plans to turn Walmsley's furniture store into an "upmarket sports bar.

Cllr Lord, who represents the Farnworth ward on Bolton Council, said: "I think Farnworth has enough public houses as it is. I think it's a real shame the shop is closing because I know of only one other furniture shop in Farnworth - at the very least I think it should be kept as a retail outlet.

"I'd also question the logic of opening up yet another pub in this area in the current climate because I know a lot of as a lot of them are struggling as it is."

Market Street is already home to pubs such as the Black Horse; The Olde Three Crowns; The Post Office; The Queens; The Freemasons Arms; The Wellington; The Victoria Inn and the RAC club.

Jo Walkden, manageress of The Queens, said: "There's only so much business to go around."

Some residents are opposed to the plan. Mum-of-three Charlotte Hughes, aged 33, of Park Street, whose home backs on to the street, said: "I've lost count of the number of times we've had our windows smashed by people throwing bottles.

"We don't even bother claiming on the insurance anymore. What do they need nine pubs for? I think the town has enough problems as it is."

Jean Hoyes, aged 55, of Buckley Lane, said: "I don't tend to go to pubs in Farnworth but I think it needs another pub like it needs another take-away. I'm amazed people have got the money to go into so many different pubs."

Michelle Daubney, aged 22, a mother-of-one and student from Hesketh Walk, Farnworth, said: "I think the number of pubs in Farnworth cause quite a lot of problems as it is.

"People living nearby have to live with the noise as well. It's a small town so why do all the pubs have to be on one street?"

A change of use application is currently being considered by Bolton Council and a decision is expected next month.

Bolton Council has sent details of the application to more than 50 businesses and residents in the surrounding area, giving them three weeks to return their comments.

Planning officer Helen Williams said: "We're going to need to assess the impact on the neighbouring commercial and residential properties."

A spokesman for the developer's agent, Harry Jackson Surveyors, said: "We intend to open an upmarket sports bar but we do not wish to comment further at the moment."