PLANS to demolish a famous Bolton pub to make way for a Spar shop are expected to be rubber stamped today.
Bolton Council’s Planning Committee will look at proposals to pull down The Rocket Hotel in New Lane, Breightmet and build the convenience store in its place.
If approved, the Spar will open on the 273 sq m area where the pub currently stands and will include 16 parking spaces.
The plans would see the shop open seven days a week from 6am until 11pm with the potential to employ 12 full-time staff.
Planning officers recommended that the committee approves the plans after the pub’s brewery Marston’s agreed to sell the site and Spar agreed to move in.
In its application, the developer, James Hall & Co, referred to instances of anti-social behaviour at the Breightmet pub — including in December last year when a 37-year-old man was attacked in the toilets.
But regulars are unhappy with the move and the council has received a number of letters objecting to the removal of the pub.
One such objector, Karla Hornby, hit the headlines earlier this year when she was forced to give birth three-months prematurely while on holiday in Benidorm.
The 29-year-old was eventually able to bring her baby boy Freddie home to Breightmet and threw him a party at The Rocket, where she has been a regular for many years.
She said she is “absolutely gutted” at the idea that her favourite pub will be pulled down. She said:: “I know it has had a bit of trouble in the past, but all pubs do — The Rocket does a lot for the local community and I can’t believe it could be going.”
But Ms Hornby and other Rocket fans look set to be disappointed, with planning officers concluding in a report to the committee that the proposed development is “compatible with surrounding land uses” and will not “harm the character and appearance of the area,” — advising members to give the application the green light.
The committee will meet at 2pm this afternoon in the Bolton Central Library Lecture Theatre.
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