THE Secretary of State will have the final word on a sawmill upgrade plan which, it is claimed, would provide a jobs boost and improve the environment.

Timber merchants W Howard Ltd plan a massive refurbishment at Phillips Sawmill on Astley Moss to increase their manufacturing facility, which could see staffing levels rise from 30 to 50 over the next few years.

Green light

Wigan Council planning chiefs gave the green light to the work at a development control committee at Wigan on Tuesday - subject to referral to the secretary of state.

The site is surrounded by Green Belt and has been a timber yard since 1958.

Under the proposals the firm hopes to replace two old buildings with one new warehouse.

Jonathan Grant, the firm's managing director said: "This one complete building will tidy up and improve the surrounding area. We will also re-fence the entire boundary, refurbish the existing buildings and landscape the road and south aspects to greatly improve the aesthetic appearance of the premises."

He said the new building would reduce the overall site coverage of buildings by 11.3 per cent.

Re-built

If they get the green light to proceed with the work the company would move into temporary office accommodation for about three years while improvements take place. The current office would be demolished and eventually re-built within the new warehouse.

Planning chiefs did not receive any objections to the plans.

But even if the secretary of state gives his seal of approval to the plans work cannot begin until a survey has been conducted for evidence of bats - if any sign of the creatures using the site is found work will be pushed back until a bat conservation scheme can be agreed.