MORE than 70 residents have signed a petition urging Basildon Council not to allow a town centre pub and nightclub to extend their hours.

Licensing applications for the Beehive pub and Colors nightclub, in Southernhay, will be considered by Basildon Council next week.

Colors has applied for permission to sell alcohol until 4am nightly, while the Beehive is seeking to serve drinks until 3am three days a week. But opponents believe the extended hours could lead to increased violence and antisocial behaviour in the area.

Graham Hopkins, of Codenham Green, has submitted a letter of objection to Basildon Council.

He said: “This presents the prospect of excessively intoxicated people being in the town centre with limited public transport at that time.

“Further, there is an increased risk of criminal damage, including broken shop windows, drunks sleeping it off in shop doorways and broken glass in the street.”

Mr Hopkins, who works as a licensing consultant, believes Basildon’s nightlife should be concentrated at the Festival Leisure Park.

A petition branding the proposals “unacceptable” has been signed by 73 people.

The Beehive opens until 11pm during the week and midnight at weekends, but could open until 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights if the application is approved.

Both premises are owned and operated by the Stonegate Pub Company.

Essex Police has also lodged a written objection to the applications, citing three serious assaults which took place at the Beehive in April.

In 2014. 21 of the 27 incidents requiring police assistance at the site took place after midnight.

At a meeting last July with premises owners, police referred to the Beehive as “the number one problem premises in Basildon district” outside Festival Leisure Park.

The police statement added: “Over very recent years, police concerns have been raised regarding the number and nature of incidents taking place, both inside and immediately outside the premises.”

It states Festival Leisure Park is a preferable location for late licensing premises due to on-site security, better transport links, dedicated police presence and a lack of residential buildings.

Basildon Council’s town centre regeneration plans have been developed with the intention of boosting the area’s night-time economy.

The town masterplan includes proposals for a new cinema complex and restaurants to rival those on offer at Festival Leisure Park.

Stonegate Pub Company has not responded to an invitation to comment.