A BAR has been refused permission to stay open later than any other watering-hole in Colchester.

Fashion Cafe Bar, in St Botolph’s Street, wanted to serve alcohol until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays – an hour later than its existing licence allowed.

But objections from the police and neighbours persuaded Colchester Council’s licensing committee turn now the application.

A special hearing was shown video footage shot by police in the early hours of last Sunday morning, showing St Botolph’s Street thronged with people after a night in town and visiting the road’s kebab shops.

Nicholas Sykes, representing the police, said: “This street is considered one of the town’s hotspots for trouble until 4am by officers. Until the bars were granted 3am licences, it was clear by 2.45am.

“It is unlikely one bar staying open will make the street any quieter. In fact it will push that activity back another hour into the morning.”

The bar is in the Queen Street/St Botolph’s Street area where a high concentration of bars, nightclubs and takeaways has been identified as a source of late-night rowdiness.

Jo Edwards, chairman of Colchester Civic Society, described the area as “an alien environment to anyone over 40 at night” and spoke of “disgusting” streets, left strewn with vomit and litter.

Mrs Edwards, who lives in nearby Priory Street, said: “The noise from the night time economy is getting later and later.

“An extra hour for this bar will just make it even worse.

“When we first moved to the street 30 years ago, it was a community of families who had lived there for generations. These people have been driven out by sleepless nights, rowdiness and vandalism.”

Police say public order offences between 2am and 4am increased by 107 per cent in the six months after Fashion Cafe was granted its 3am licence, in March 2008.

However, bar owner Aykut Adem told the hearing he had been a licensee for 23 years and had “a very good relationship with the police”. He added: “I have no problems in my bar and what happens in the street outside is nothing to do with my bar.”

Amrik Wahiwala, representing Mr Adem, said the bar’s takings had fallen since others had also been given 3am licences.

He said: “By staying open an extra hour, he hopes to keep the business viable and profitable.

“It would also stagger the times people are leaving bars and going out on to the street, which would reduce the stress on the area.”