A HOTEL plan in the grounds of the historic Watermillock restaurant has been blocked by Bolton's planning councillors. They have refused permission for the development at the grade two listed building on Crompton Way, Astley Bridge. Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries Ltd., which owns the Milestone restaurant chain, wanted to build a 37-bedroom "travel lodge."

It would have been one of several the company is planning to add to its restaurants to offer "low cost, high quality accommodation."

But the site was on green belt land and councillors felt it would also spoil the view down to the Eagley Valley.

The Watermillock is one of Bolton's finest old buildings.

It was built in the 1880s by bleaching magnates Herbert and Thomas Thwaites and was later used as a military hospital, a retreat for a religious order and a home for refugees during the Spanish Civil War.

It then became an old people's home, which stood empty for several years before it was bought by the brewery in 1993.

The tasteful transformation into a restaurant later received a Civic Trust award.

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