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A pub owner has won planning permission to turn part of his Bedwas premises into accommodation.

Clayton Jones applied to convert the upper floor of the Wonky Bar from a “social entertainment space” to “five self-contained holiday flats”.

The ground floor bar area will not be affected by the proposals, according to a report by Caerphilly Council planning officers.

Two objections were lodged with the council, including one complaint from a nearby resident which “queries the need for tourist accommodation in Bedwas”.

The council planners judged this was not a material planning consideration, and said the use of the accommodation for holiday lets would be controlled via strict conditions imposed by the local authority.

The other objection centred on parking, with a local saying there was “not enough parking here for residents who permanently reside here”.

In response, the council said the Wonky Bar is “in close proximity” to two car parks, and Bedwas is accessible by public transport.

Council officers were generally supportive of the planning application, but the environmental health manager suggested a “lack of natural ventilation” meant the first floor of the premises was not “suitable for permanent residential use”.

Planners granted planning permission, subject to several conditions, including that the premises can only be used for “short-term lets”.