CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £30 million revamp of Bolton's historic Market Hall were given the go-ahead on Thursday night despite the biggest display of public opposition to a planning application in the town's history.

Planning bosses overwhelmingly backed developers plans to transform the Grade II listed building into modern mall on what stallholders described as a "black day".

The plans will see the building of a new glass fronted extension on Bridge Street and the creation of new modern shop units, replacing the traditional stalls within the Market Hall.

It is hoped the new shop units will attract major High Street stores.

Around 77,000 shoppers signed a petition against the proposals which Market Hall traders say will wreck the jewel in Bolton's shopping crown.

But after the meeting, Cllr David Wilkinson, executive member for environment at Bolton Council, said the development was essential for the future of the town centre.

He said: "This was one of the most difficult decisions that many people on this committee have ever had to make but, if we had not made it, it would have sent out a signal that Bolton is not interested in its own future.

"It is hard to go against public opinion but it is the interests of the town centre that we start moving forward again.

"It is a difficult pill for the stall holders to swallow because they have built up their expectations as a result of the high level of public support they have received."

But David Wood, chairman of the Market Hall Traders Association, vowed that stall holders would fight on to stop the development and would be taking legal advice about pushing for a judicial review.

He said: "The members of the planning committee should be ashamed of themselves and this is a decision that they will live to regret.

"They are creating a hostile environment in the town centre where the small trader is not welcome."

Traders are opposed to plans to cut back the number of stalls made available to them in the new development from 70 to 25 and have dismissed the company's offer of relocation for those who cannot be accommodated in the plans as unsatisfactory.

Under developer Agora's proposals, the Market Hall will continue to trade until 2006, when the current leases expire, and it is anticipated that construction on the new scheme will begin in the summer of that year.

The development will see the inside of the Market Hall redesigned to accommodate high street chains. Images submitted to the committee show a modernopen plan mall on two floors with escalators and coffee shops.

A two-storey glass-fronted extension would go up off Bridge Street to house a restaurant or cafe with a new entrance to the Market Hall on the road near to the where the disused public toilets now stand.

The plan was originally considered by the planning committee in December last year, but councillors deferred the application for more discussions in the hope that the two opposing sides could come to more of a compromise.

There were boos for the committee from members of the 60-strong crowd that turned up to hear the application discussed.

Only three of the 23 councillors voted against the plans.

One of them, Cllr Bill Collison told the committee: "I can see the character of Bolton being devastated and I do not think this will work.

"I may be a bit old fashioned but I have to vote with my heart."

But Cllr Laurie Williamson said it was vital that councillors voted with their heads.

He said: "The Market Hall captures the best of what the Victorians had to offer and this application will make sure it will be sustained for the future."

Cllr Nick Peel added: "Bolton town centre is declining and we are no longer second to only Manchester.

"We have to keep up or the future is bleak."