PLANNING chiefs have given the go ahead for a large extension at the Holiday Inn next to the Reebok Stadium.

Town hall officers had recommended that the application for a three-storey 45-bedroomed extension should be turned down.

They had reported that it was too close to Middlebrook, the brook which the entertainment and retail complex is named after.

Officers feared that it could cause a flooding problem because it was taking up storage space for overflow of water from the brook.

But planning control sub commitee councillors visited the site before returning to the town hall to make the decision to give planning permission.

They were told that North West Water and the Environment Agency were now not as concerned as they had been about the effects of flooding as when the report was made.

Blackrod Labour Cllr Eric Johnson said: "I do feel much happier about this after speaking to the architect when we visited the site."

Horwich Liberal Democrat Cllr Mrs Barbara Ronson said: "This does show the success of the Middlebrook development that they want to expand. It should bring more visitors into the area and we should welcome it."

Tory Cllr John Hanscomb added: "This is a good indication of the success of the Middlebrook development and there is pressure on the accommodation which is already there."

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