A COMPANY has submitted plans to reopen a disused shop on Canvey as a bar and restaurant – weeks after it dropped proposals to turn it into a nightclub.

Venue Entertainments originally applied to turn the former Fads DIY shop, in Furtherwick Road, into a nightclub with dancefloor, outside seating area and VIP lounge, before withdrawing the application in February.

Now it is asking Castle Point council to allow it to use the shop, which closed two years ago, as a bistro bar.

The nightclub plan was dropped after council planners recommended councillors to refuse the application because the company had not provided a proper flood risk assessment.

Concerns were also raised about the disturbance a nightclub would cause to people living nearby.

A spokesman for Leigh-based BGA Architects, which submitted both applications, said: “Our client is mindful the new development must make a positive contribution to the locality, both in terms of its ability to increase facilities for the local population and its ability to create employment.

“The concept is to provide a modern setting, suitable for entertainment events and social interaction between locals, while causing minimal disturbance to current neighbours.

“Furtherwick Road has, in recent years, seen an increase of empty buildings.

“The client would like to make the current premises more in keeping with the bistro style within the town.”

However, islander John Pharro, 68, of Orrmo Road, said a new bar could still cause late-night problems for residents.

He added: “There is already a wine bar only a few doors down.

“There is a big problem with late revellers in the town at the moment, and having another bar would only double the possibility of that happening – and this bar would be even closer to residents than the other one.

“I cannot understand why they would want to open a bar when the seafront is far more suited to places of that sort.”

Venue Entertainments also recently announced plans to take over Charley’s Bar, in Long Road, Canvey.