A WINE bar could be forced to close following complaints from residents about noise and disturbances late into the night.

Officers at Castle Point Council have been receiving complaints about Charley’s Bar in Long Road, Canvey, for the past five months.

But they say letters, telephone calls and site visits to tackle the problem are not working and have launched a review of the premises licence.

Residents in St Katherine’s Court retirement flats, opposite the wine bar, claim a regular karaoke night that goes on into the early hours is the source of most of the problems.

One 80-year-old woman, whose flat faces onto Long Road, almost moved out because things got so bad.

She said: “The noise is horrendous. Every other Friday is the worst time when it’s karaoke night.

“The last one went on until three in the morning. With the smoking ban they have got to come outside and the more drunk they are the louder the screaming and screeching.

“I was thinking of moving because I couldn’t stand the noise.”

The bar has a licence to open until 1.30am Monday to Saturday and 12.30am on Sundays.

About 20 residents living in St Katherine’s and nearby streets, including Village Drive and Brooklands Square, signed a petition calling for something to be done about the bar.

Another St Katherine’s resident, who did not want to be named, said: “After we gave the petition in we were given 21 days to report noise and nuisance coming form the bar, but it all went quiet. Then after 21 days it started up again.”

The 75-year-old man added: “I looked out of my window one night and there were two men fighting in the middle of the road.

“We want the bar to be closed down.”

Charley’s owner Michael Aubrey blamed the recent problems on a couple of isolated incidents and has fitted a noise limiter that will make the music cut out if it reaches a certain level.

He added: “The last thing we want to do is upset anyone. We will be clamping down on noise in future and if residents have any concerns they should just call us.”

“There was one night recently when we had a private party and it went on later than it should have done. I am normally very vigilant about making sure the door isn’t left open when people go outside.”

Residents and other interested parties have until November 8 to make written representations to the council’s licensing manager at Castle Point Council, Kiln Road, Thundersley, SS7 1TF.