PLANS to extend a popular pub next to a primary school in Clitheroe come before borough planners on Thursday.

Ribble Valley Council planning and development committee will decide whether to give the go-ahead to the proposed extension at the Keystreet Bar in Lowergate.

Licensee Phil Knight wants to build the extension to house an additional lounge and dance floor at the popular nitespot.

Planning officers have recommended approval, despite several letters of objection and an 18-name petition from residents.

They are concerned that the pub will become too noisy and cause parking problems in the busy street.

Clitheroe Town Council has also objected on the grounds that it will over-intensify the site, which is next door to St Michael and St John's RC Primary School, and be detrimental to the amenity of the area.

Planning officer John Macholc said: "The proposal seeks to extend the rear of the Keystreet Bar by incorporatig a single-storey extension on the covered beer garden area.

"The extension will fill the gap between a bottle store and the primary school and provide an additional lounge area and dance floor.

"It will be constructed of stone, with a slate roof that will not be visible, two windows and an emergency exit."

Councillors will be told that an acoustic report by environmental health officers concludes that anticipated noise levels are not expected to cause problems.

Plans to build a conservatory with dance floor at Keystreet were turned down by planners in March and pub owner Phil Knight was told to pull down a party marquee at the back of the pub in 2000.