WORRIED residents have raised concerns about the impact on their lives of a proposed new nightspot opening on Canvey.

A licensing application has been submitted to Castle Point Council to turn two shops opposite the Admiral Jellicoe pub, in the High Street, into a wine bar, which would play host to live music and DJs.

The applicant, Lee Petch, 43, of Shell Beach Road, Canvey had originally applied for a late licence – allowing the bar to stay open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

But he now says he intends it to shut at midnight, after hearing that dozens of people objected to the original plans. Concerned residents have the support of Castle Point MP Bob Spink, who says the area is no place for such a venue as it is close to Leigh Beck Junior School.

Mike Brooker, 65, who lives near the proposed wine bar, said it was inappropriate for the area.

“Around 50 per cent of the people who live around here are of the mature age and it’s almost all residential,” he said.

Fellow resident Jeffery Frost, 54, of Seaview Road, has a garden less than ten feet from where the bar would be and fears it will make his evenings a misery.

He said: “My garden borders the building, it’s going to be unusable in the evenings because of the racket from the music and people drinking.”

Mr Frost organised a petition against the proposals signed by more than 40 residents, which has been sent to Castle Point Council.

There are also concerns smokers from the wine bar will have no place to gather other than the pavement, which is used by parents taking home kids from Leigh Beck Junior School, in Point Road.

In a letter to Castle Point Council chief executive David Marchant, the Dr Spink wrote: “It will cause significant problems for both an infant school and a junior school which are adjacent to the site, putting smokers and drinkers in direct contact with children in an unacceptable manner.”

Mr Petch is seeking permission for the wine bar to be open between 11am and 11.30pm on weekdays and Sundays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Residents have until August 11, 2009, to lodge their objections with the council before a decision is taken by its licensing committee.