A WETHERSPOON pub will open in Witney, it was confirmed this week, but without a controversial beer garden and smoking area.

West Oxfordshire District Council members backed the plan for the former Palace nightclub in Market Square on Monday.

The pub chain will now seek to buy the building and get council permission to open from 8am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday. The nightclub could open from 10am to 2am, Monday to Sunday.

Councillors said fears over antisocial behaviour, noise and impact on other pubs could not be considered as they are not planning matters.

Some 54 letters and a 228-signature petition opposed the plan. Six wrote in support.

Steve Thompson, landlord of The Angel, opposite the site, said: “We have seen a downturn in trade and you might have seen pub closures anyway without Wetherspoon opening, but it’s not going to help.”

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said the pub would create about 40 full and part-time jobs. He could not give an opening date or name for the premises.