AN OPTICIAN will relocate to a new premises this week which could double the number of patients he sees.

Clear Vision in St Helen's Road will be moving to the Eye Site Express building across the road as its director retires.

The move comes as plans to convert the current site into a restaurant have resurfaced.

The plans, originally submitted in April, were withdrawn by the landlord after he was approached by The Bolton News.

Mohammed Jiva, who has run Clear Vision at its current premises for five years, originally opposed the planning application but has since handed in his notice.

The optometrist is making the move across the road because he received an offer he could not refuse, he said.

Eye Site Express was set to close as its was about to retire after thirty years of running the business.

Mr Jiva has now agreed to take over the practice which would see the number of patients on his books double as he brings his 2,000 NHS patients with him.

He said: "It's worked out, but the only down side was that my practice that I'm moving out from was already done up. Even though it's compliant, we've had to freshen it up."

Clear Vision is due to move to the former Eye Site Express premises on August 1.

Mr Jiva, who currently employs four members of staff, will be looking to employ another person on a full-time basis to cope with the additional patients he will be serving.

The premises could be converted to a restaurant if the latest plans are approved.

The new business would be family run, according to the planning agent, but the plans reveal no further details.

Sohail Musa of SMS Architecture said the applicant is not looking to open a takeaway restaurant, given the many to-go eateries already in the area.

He said: "He's trying to do a more gourmet-style menu. He's not going for a takeaway. He needs to do something a bit different."

Internal changes are expected to get underway as soon as the plans are approved.