St Edmundsbury Borough Council's licensing and regulatory committee last week approved a new policy which means applicants for new licences or variations to hours will have to show their plans will not add to a 'cumulative impact' of noise, nuisance and disorder in the historic core of the town.

But David Revell, a director of Ruin nightclub, in St Andrew's Street South said: "It is not possible for anyone to prove that.

"All we can do is run our place as responsibly as possible, but once customers are 50 to 100 yards off the premises it is more difficult for us to control."

Ruin has applied to open an hour later at weekends – until 3am – to bring it in line with the nightclubs on Station Hill.

Sidney Hunt, 91, of King's Road, who has objected to the application, said: "When people come away from there I sometimes get woken up. You always get the rowdy ones and sometimes they tip the wheelie bins over in the street."

But Mr Revell said the move for longer hours was driven by a European trend for people going out and staying out later.

"You are not going to change that trend – you would just end up with fewer people going out in Bury, which would be dreadful," said Mr Revell.

Mark Nicolson, landlord of The Queen's Head, in Churchgate Street, said there were already measures in the licensing act to control nuisance and noise problems. He accused councillors of using the policy to win votes.

"The town centre is a designated area for businesses," said Mr Nicolson. "It will have a detrimental impact."

Abbeygate ward councillors Paul Farmer and Richard Rout, campaigned for the new policy.

"While not curing all the problems of late night drinking, this decision certainly sends out a message of support to residents," said Cllr Farmer.

Cllr Rout said: "We all recognise the need for a successful evening economy in the town.

"In our opinion, this policy strikes the correct balance between sensible growth and protecting the quality of life residents enjoy."

The decision is subject to full council approval.

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