AN island pub's bid to create hotel rooms looks set to get the go-ahead.

Barrow Borough Council planning committee will tomorrow discuss a proposal to see nine en-suite rooms and a porter's room built on the first floor of Vickerstown Institute, Walney.

The building 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 pointed out the "existing problem with on-street parking at this location". It requested further information from the applicant, Mr P Wilcock, and then removed its objection once this was received.

But Cumbria Highways did say that the application "still seems to be double counting the six car parking paces which are to be provided in the adjacent development; these spaces were to be provided for the use of the existing use of the Vickerstown Institute."

A resident of Park Lane, Walney, who did not wish to be named, said they did not object to the application in general but is "interested in where all the residents who will use the facility intend to park their cars".

He said: "We are already going to be in short supply of parking spaces once the housing development is completed in Park Lane and they take away the main parking area in the street, due to off-road parking they are obtaining with these houses."

The resident also highlighted the six already allocated institute spaces and said: "I hope some consideration is paid to us long-term residents in this matter as we have already been short-changed with regards to not being notified about the plans for the housing development."

The planning case officer, Jason Hipkiss, recommended planning permission is granted subject to conditions.

The report says: "Many public houses have first floor letting rooms and the nearby King Alfred Hotel has recently undergone a similar change.

"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."