UP to 400 patients a day could be treated at a Farnworth dental practice if a new planning application gets the go ahead.

An application has been submitted to Bolton Council to convert Farnworth and District Veterans Club into a dental surgery.

Ravat and Ray Dental Care, based in Wigan Road, is proposing to turn the three-storey, 513 square metre, building in Brackley Street into a 12-surgery dental care facility providing for both NHS and private patients.

In a design and access statement by the applicant Martin Weaver it stated the ground floor would be divided into 12 surgeries which "are expected to cater for 300 – 400 patients per day".

It said: "The existing building is currently in a dilapidated state and comprises masonry brick panels, pebble dash render and painted timber windows.

"It is intended to improve the appearance of the existing building by overcoating the existing render with a new polymer modified system to enliven and brighten the appearance.

"The new facility proposes to use the ground floor for the patient surgeries with attendant reception and waiting areas, whilst the first floor area will be used for administration and staff welfare."

The size of the current building would not be changed but the main entrance would be enhanced with a "perforated foil overcladding", windows replaced with uPVC versions, and disabled access.

Cllr Asif Ibrahim, who represents Farnworth, said he supported the principle of an accessible dental practice which services the community.

He said: "Farnworth has, according to government data, one of the most deprived populations, health inequality and unmet health needs in the Greater Manchester conurbation and certainly within Bolton.

"This is not new – it has been the case for some time, with NHS data indicating that Farnworth is crying out for a central modern health centre.

"Dental health is just one prong of the health need of the area, and as such, within the right location, would supplement the health offer available to local residents, some of whom are registered at practices out of the area due to past issues with available places."

Farnworth and District Veterans Club closed in January last year after 100 years in existence.

The club was set up during the First World War for ex-servicemen and over the years played host to wedding receptions and funeral wakes.

An application had previously been submitted in March last year to turn the club into retail units but an agent for the applicant, Paul Riley, said the plans have been shelved for the time being in favour of the newest application.