A WALNEY pub has won unanimous approval to create hotel rooms.

Barrow Borough Council planning committee gave the green light to

Vickerstown Institute on Walney to create nine en-suite rooms and a porter's room on the first floor of the building.

The pub is on the corner of Central Drive and Park Lane. The land of the back of the building, previously a bowling green, is under construction as a housing development.

Cumbria Highways had highlighted an "existing problem with on-street parking " and had requested further information from the applicant, Mr P Wilcock, before later removing its objection.

A resident of Park Lane, Walney also raised the parking issues. They did not object to the application but asked that consideration be paid to long-term residents.

A report for the meeting said: "Stand-alone drinking establishments are becoming the exception as owners seek to diversify and there has been a marked increase for demand in bed spaces in the town in recent years as a result of the BAE developments."

At the meeting on Tuesday planning officer Charles Wilton said: "It is an investment in the area.

"It will be very useful accommodation."

The committee voted to back the plan unanimously.