THE Wetherspoon pub in Galashiels has secured permission from Scottish Borders Council to increase its capacity by 50% and expand into the premises next door.

Hunters Hall, on Gala’s High Street, will now be able to cater for 594 customers after councillors sitting on the authority’s licensing board voted unanimously in favour of the proposals.

Herefordshire-based JD Wetherspoon has already secured planning permission to extend into the old JB Hogg butcher’s shop next door, which has been vacant since the retiring of Jim Hogg in 2013.

At a meeting of the council’s licensing board on Friday, the pub’s manager, Alex McTrusty, told councillors that the expansion will enable the pub to take on 20 new jobs.

Speaking in support of the application, Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson said: “I’m in favour of this. I can see no problems arising from this.

“Wetherspoon’s have been working well in Gala for years. It’s been well received by the public and the community, so I can’t see any difficulties.

“If there are any problems with this, I’m sure they’ll be brought to our attention as soon as possible.”

Mid-Berwickshire councillor, and chair of the licensing board, John Greenwell, also spoke in favour of the proposal: “The general feeling is that they’re bringing a disused unit into use again by extending their existing premises.

“It’s an extra capacity of 200, and I believe Gala can cope with that, no problem at all.

“There have been no comments from the members, other than positive ones, because one of the things we look at is extra employment for the area and everyone feels this is a positive step.

“There are no over provision worries, and so I’m broadly in favour of this.”

Reacting to the approval of the licensing application, a spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: “ The scheme will cost £750,000 and will create up to 20 new jobs. There are no on-site dates as yet.

“The pub is extremely popular in the town and our aim is always to offer the best possible pub for our customers.

“We believe that our scheme will improve the pub. We also believe that it will act as a catalyst for other companies to invest in the town.”

The pub has already secured planning permission for the expansion, subject to various conditions, including limiting its beer garden’s opening hours to 11am to 10.30pm daily and agreeing any external redecoration with the council before proceeding.

The application sparked four objections from neighbours fearful of further disruption, but in a report to councillors recommending approval, planning officer Carlos Clarke said: “The principle is agreeable as the site is within the town centre and is not within the protected retail frontage.

“This proposal will reuse an existing shop and encourage commercial activity alongside the existing public house and amongst offices, joiners and other commercial uses.

“The overall result of these works will amount to relatively minor changes to the existing arrangement.

“Subject to conditions covering specifications, the proposals will not detract from the character or appearance of the conservation area.”