A NIGHTCLUB in Milford Haven is asking to have its opening hours extended until 9.30am, in a bid to curb rowdy behaviour.

The Basement - also known as Circles Nightclub - in Victoria Road, says being allowed to stay open later will ‘reduce crime and disorder by allowing customers to gradually disperse’.

But local residents have warned that allowing loud music and the sale of alcohol until the early hours will have a negative impact on their lives.

The proposed opening hours are 6pm until 2.30am Monday and Tuesday, until 6.30am on Wednesday and Thursday, until 8.30am on Friday, between 1pm and 8.30am on Saturday, and between 1pm and 6.30am on Sunday.

In addition, the owners are applying for 9.30am closure on Bank Holiday Sundays and New Year’s Eve.

The club currently closes at 5.45am on Saturdays, and 3.30am on Sundays.

The application says later hours would provide greater opportunity to “reduce tension” when a customer is asked to leave, as it would avoid them waiting around outside to ‘confront the “other party” in a disagreement.

Owners say phased dispersal would also stop large crowds gathering outside, meaning patrons would not need to raise their voices to be heard, resulting in less noise.

But objections have been raised by locals.

Bethan Journeux, of Hakin, said drunk people spilling out onto the road was already a problem, and believes this would worsen if the application is successful.

“I have had to stop the car before now to avoid a drunk woman actually sitting in the middle of the road,” she said.

“I have also been flagged down and had a lift home demanded of me as there are no taxis available at this time.”

Mr Griffin, from Milford Haven, said the club’s existing licence already meant those living in the area were subjected to loud music that at times reached ‘biblical’ levels, with customers a “continual menace”, ‘urinating, vomiting and fighting’ in the street.

Milford Town Council has backed the application, providing ‘measures are taken to limit noise to an acceptable level’.

The decision will go before the County Council’s licensing sub-committee on Friday, July 1, at 10am.