A MAJOR overhaul of a service station dubbed the worst in Britain could begin within weeks.

Euro Garages has been granted permission to refurbish the northbound and southbound areas of Bolton West Services by Chorley Council.

But the plans still have to be rubber-stamped by the Government Office for the North West due to the large amount of green belt land included in the proposals.

Once final approval is granted, Darwen-based Euro Garages, which bought the site last summer, plan to spend about £6 million to turn around the fortunes of the M61 stopping point.

Last year, Motorway Services, a national service station website, named it as the worst in Britain.

Euro Garages wants to demolish the existing buildings and petrol station and replace them with a smaller, main building and petrol station, and an annex building offering a more limited range of amenities and conference suites.

The five restaurants, details of which have not been revealed, will be set in a food court within the new southbound building, which is described as being made of steel, glass and timber.

The proposed building will also include a convenience store, a games area, toilet and changing facilities and a prayer room.

Other Euro Garages sites in the North offer convenience retail stores, in conjunction with Spar, and fast-food outlets, such as Subway and Greggs. It is thought those brands will be incorporated at the Bolton West site, which was opened in 1971.

A company spokesman said: “We have worked closely with the council who have been supportive and have reached a compromise on site design that all parties are happy with. We are proposing to commence work this spring.”

Cllr Peter Malpas, Chorley Council’s executive member for business, said: “Due to the size of the proposals and the fact that they are in green belt land we have to refer them to the Secretary of State who will decide whether the applications should be called in.”

andrew.greaves@ theboltonnews.co.uk