Residents beg council to refuse bar's new request

Residents of an apartment block on Exchange Street says they have had to put up with vomit and broken glass

People living in a city centre apartment block are pleading with council bosses not to allow the bar below them to be able to play music into the early hours.

Reds Bar, on Exchange Street East in Liverpool, has asked to extend its live music licence from 22:30 GMT to 02:00 on Sundays.

But residents of the flats above and around the bar have told licensing chiefs they have had to put up with vomit, urine, broken glass and lewd comments towards women and feared the problems would get worse if the hours increased.

A spokesman for the venue said there was no evidence for the complaints.

The bar, which was previously a Barton Rouge Indian restaurant, also wants to be able to play recorded music until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays and 01:00 on Sundays.

City centre councillor Nick Small objected to the extension, saying: "Since the premises has reopened as Reds, I have reported at least six incidents of public nuisance caused by the premises to the City Council Environmental Health and Licensing Teams, following complaints from residents living at 26 Exchange Street East."

He added: "I also have little confidence in the ability of the current management of the premises to manage these premises in a responsible way."

Karl Barry, the agent acting on behalf of Reds Leisure Holdings Ltd, said: "A lot of accusations have been made but no evidence has been provided to back them up."

A hearing will take place on 16 September.