THE go-ahead for plans to extend a high street pub's outside seating area has been welcomed.

The Robert Shaw in Westhoughton applied for the extension as well as to create new boundary walls and a new access from Marsden Street.

The proposal for the Market Street Bar, owned by JD Wetherspoon, has been approved by Bolton Council and officers said it would not have a detrimental impact on residents living nearby.

Cllr David Wilkinson, who represents Westhoughton South on Bolton Council, said: "The business world is changing. Most members of the public don't go anywhere near a shop, they use the internet and you see delivery vans and takeaways being delivered.

"We don't go shopping these days. Market Street is changing. It is becoming more commercial.

"Anything that can keep Market Street going is to be welcomed, unless it is really obnoxious.

"Wetherspoons has been there for a while and it is well placed in the town centre but the one thing it has been lacking is a beer garden."

When the plans went before Westhoughton Town Council a few months ago, there were questions raised about whether there would be any impact on residents living nearby.

But Cllr Wilkinson said: "It will have no real impact. In terms of residential houses it is a dead street.

"I do not think it will cause any problems."

Wetherspoon has submitted a follow-up application concerning the boundary wall in Marsden Street.

The new wall is being created in order to "provide screening/sound attenuation between

the proposals and the residential properties on the opposite side of the highway".

The developer is hoping to build the wall slightly higher than was previously approved.

This is because of recommendations from the acoustic engineers.

Information on the application can be found by going to the planning portal on the Bolton Council website and searching for reference number 02200/17.