FAST food giant McDonalds have agreed to spend £51,000 on road improvements near their new restaurant in Bolton.

The schemes are part of an agreement contained in planning approval for a £1 million drive-through fast food outlet now being built in Chorley Old Road.

The new outlet, on the site of the now demolished Jolly Miller pub, is expected to open by the end of November.

As reported in the BEN, angry residents had banded together to oppose the scheme to bulldoze the pub to make way for the drive-through and 85 seater fast food restaurant.

The protesters had objected to the scheme because of traffic safety fears and because they believed it would increase litter in the area.

However, some local people backed the McDonalds scheme because they felt it would be an improvement on the pub.

And at a planning committee meeting, councillors warned that McDonalds could open up the restaurant by converting the pub because it had already received permission for use as a restaurant.

Now the restaurant chain is spending £35,000 on building pedestrian refuges and a build-out on Chorley Old Road. The build-outs slow traffic down by narrowing the carriageway and it also helps pedestrians, especially children, to cross the road more easily. McDonalds will also create parking bays for residents. The company is also spending £16,000 on traffic calming measures on the Johnson Fold Estate. work is about to start on both projects. Cllr Guy Harkin, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "We welcome McDonalds' work in the area because it will make the environment safer for children, especially in the light of an increase in traffic resulting from the new drive-through restaurant."