A TROUT fishery has been given permission to expand after councillors overruled a planning officer.
Curley's Fishery at Wallsuches Reservoir, near Horwich, has won approval for a two-storey building to house a tackle shop, classroom and equipment barn along with a bailiff's office and flat.
A temporary cafe structure which has been in place since 2003 will be replaced with a permanent stone building.
The application by owner Steve Kershaw was backed by a petition with 319 names but there were 13 objections.
Planning officer Andy Lancashire had said the expansion would be inappropriate in green belt and raised fears that the buildings could be turned into houses in the future.
But Mr Kershaw, who has ploughed £300,000 into the site, said he was not a property developer. Horwich Town Council recommended approval of the scheme and borough councillors also gave their support.
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