PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has confirmed it now has a licence to operate in St Neots and will begin building work in the town this September. The firm added that its new pub should be open in the town in late February, 2009. The pub giant will convert the

PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has confirmed it now has a licence to operate in St Neots and will begin building work in the town this September.

The firm added that its new pub should be open in the town in late February, 2009.

The pub giant will convert the former post office in New Street into a "restaurant and wine bar".

Costs have not yet been finalised, but The Hunts Post has been told the chain is expecting to invest about £1.55million in the project and create up to 40 new jobs.

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said: "We are obviously very pleased that we have been granted planning permission and we are looking forward to opening our first Huntingdonshire Wetherspoon in St Neots on February 23 or 24.

"We think it will be a good addition to the town, offering a wide selection of drinks and serving food all day.

"Rather than letting it remain empty, we wanted to give this building a new lease of life. Where possible, we will seek to retain any original features of the former post office."

Permission was granted in December to add a single storey extension to the rear of the property and make the necessary alterations to the current building. The work would extend the 504sq m building by 147sq m.

The licence would allow the venue to stay open until 12.30am Monday to Thursday and Sunday and until 1.30am on Saturday.

The town post office closed in autumn 2006 and was moved to Martin's newsagents in the High Street.

INFORMATION: To view the application in full, visit www.huntsdc.gov.uk and search for planning application 0702476FUL. Would you welcome a Wetherspoon in St Neots? Send your views to editor@huntspost.co.uk or write to The Hunts Post, 30 High Street, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3TB.

FAST food chain KFC will find out in May if it has permission to build in St Neots.

It wants to knock down the former Bell Inn pub on Great North Road, Eaton Socon and turn it into a restaurant, take-away and drive-thru.

If permission is granted, the new restaurant would create about 30 jobs.

A spokesperson for KFC told The Hunts Post: "Due to popular demand in the area we are pursuing plans to develop a site on the Great North Road in St Neots with one of our top franchisees.

"If successful, the restaurant will create 20-30 jobs within the local community.

"We are not, however, in a position to confirm investment figures and dates until planning permission has been approved and the commercial terms finalised.