CONTROVERSIAL plans to cut into Bolton Town Hall’s historic front facade to create outdoor seating areas have been shelved in favour of a new proposal — which includes an internal cafe-bar and an upgraded wedding venue.

Bolton Council has said that after listening to feedback on its original vision — including the seating areas either side of the town hall steps — it is changing course.

New proposals, which have been submitted to the planning department, include the creation of a purely internal cafe-bar, based on the site of the former Dido suite, which will be used by the public and council staff and could support evening events in the Albert Halls.

The amended plans do still require one section of the grade II listed building to be cut into — to allow the council to form a new disabled access ramp and entrance in the north side.

This will be placed to the right of the Albert Halls entrance area and will require one of the existing windows to be cut to ground level.

Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said that another key aspect of the new town hall vision will be to provide “one of the finest wedding and function facilities in the region”.

Registrars will be based at the town hall instead of Mere Hall, meaning that people can hold every part of their wedding events inside the building, with receptions taking place in improved and updated facilities.

Speaking about the amended plans, Cllr Morris said: “As custodians of some of Bolton’s finest buildings we fully understand our responsibilities.

"Those responsibilities include making sure that buildings like the town hall continue to play a major part in the lives of our communities and that it is fully accessible to all.

“We believed that the option to create a space for a restaurant and cafe with external seating areas was a good way to support the regeneration of the town centre and would help us to reduce the cost of running the Albert Halls without compromising the external appearance of the building.

“However, as part of our consultation we have received feedback that we have taken into account.

“Many felt the adaptation to the facade was too high a price to pay and so we will not be pursuing this option now — instead we will focus on delivering improved accessibility and better catering and function facilities within the building.

“This will still enable us to achieve some of our original objectives, including providing one of the finest wedding and function facilities in the region.

"It will also allow us to retain the town hall as one of the country’s premier civic buildings and one that makes all Boltonians justifiably proud.”

Conservative group leader Cllr David Greenhalgh, who opposed the original plans, said: “My first emotion is one of relief that the façade of our great town hall will not be ruined.

“The Conservative group has opposed this idea right from the start, and we are delighted that the ruling Labour group has finally seen sense and scrapped the proposals.

"Labour finally realised that public opinion was heavily against them, and that the issue was becoming toxic. The voice of the people of Bolton has finally been listened to.”