A BAR has won its bid to extend its licensing hours amid residents’ concerns over noise and disorder.

A hearing at Basildon Council’s offices in St Martin’s Square saw bosses from Reid’s Bar and Restaurant, in Laindon Road, Billericay, convince the authority’s licensing committee to allow it to remain open for an extra hour and half an hour on Friday and Saturday.

This means the bar will now stay open until 2am.

Gary Pons, barrister representing Reid’s, said the business is making the move in order to help its security team empty the premises more effectively.

The proposal has long attracted concerns from the bar’s neighbours and Billericay Town Council which said it had grown tired of what it perceived as disorderly behaviour.

The council revealed it had received 34 complaints from residents since 2004, yet backed the bar for “complying with the licensing objectives”.

The bar’s bosses convinced the committee it would be able to implement a staggered dispersal policy ensuring neighbouring streets will not become overcrowded.

Billericay Town Council described the decision as “appalling”.

A dozen residents argued their case to the council at Friday’s meeting which at times grew heated.

One resident, of Laindon Road, opposed the extended hours.

The 45-year-old said: “Noise of the music from Reid’s itself is too loud and gradually increased over the course of the evening.

“My children and I cannot sleep and we feel threatened when walking back home late in the evening.

“I would like to request the current licence be put on review due to on-going nuisances to the local residents.”