CONTROVERSIAL extensions to a Glazebury garden centre have been given the go ahead by council planners.

The blueprints for the scheme, which have been five years in the making, will see large changes to Bent's garden centre on Manchester Road.

The scheme for the garden centre, which will be 70-years-old next year, has proved controversial among parish councillors who say the building would be too large.

As well as an extension to the building, there will be a falconry, mini-farm and nature centre and adventure play area.

Ron Bent, owner, said the scheme was part of a long 10-year vision rather than a short-term project.

He added: "One of the main concerns was to integrate the site into the countryside and part of our application includes a large number of trees that will help with the green belt in the area."

The centre started in 1936 when Alfred and Margaret Bent started selling roses from their front garden, 100 metres from the current location.

Included in the plans is a roundabout to re-direct traffic into the changed car park. Bents say this will also slow traffic in the traffic entering Glazebury village.

But the scheme, which was agreed at a meeting of Warrington Borough Council's development control committee last month, did not find favour with all.

Members of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council objected to the scheme because of the building in the green belt.