PLANS for a 61-bedroom hotel at The Valley have been given the go-ahead by Bolton councillors.

Planning control sub-committee members passed the hotel scheme, submitted by Riverside Business Park, which also includes two drive-through restaurants.

Cllr Stuart Murray, chairman of Bolton's Cycling Strategy Forum, praised planning officers for insisting on a cycle park as a condition of permission. Cllr Murray told the meeting: "It strikes me that this particular development will attract people working unusual shift patterns.

"We should encourage people to use alternative transport, but let's face it - how many people are willing to leave their £700 cycle?

"We must provide secure cycle parking so that people feel able to leave their bikes."

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