A PUB in Chipping Sodbury will be able to stay open later despite massive public opposition.

The Portcullis Hotel has been granted an entertainment licence to stay open until midnight, although the original application called for an extension until 1am.

Last week's Gazette revealed the plans, prompting a flurry of objections from many residents who claimed they knew nothing about them. The late objections meant South Gloucestershire Council's licensing committee had to adjourn its initial hearing on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Terry Pomroy said: "We do not want to make a decision this morning that could be objected to this afternoon."

One objection had come from Cllr Sheila Mead who had not become aware of the application until she had read it in the Gazette.

She said: "I thought that councillors had to be informed of these changes - the first I heard of it was through the paper.

"Sodbury Town Council was not aware either," she added. "I do not object to the Portcullis extending its hours, but I think midnight is late enough - 1am is too late for those who live in Melbourne Drive at the back of the pub."

A resident of Horse Street, who does not wish to be named, also thanked the Gazette for highlighting the issue.

She said: "I knew nothing about these plans until I read them in the paper. Putting a small sign in the window of the pub is not enough. A proposal which will have such serious consequences for local residents ought to be widely publicised to give local residents time in which to comment."

She also raised concern about the knock-on effect the later opening would have on the town.

"Where one pub in Chipping Sodbury leads, the others will inevitably have to follow and the whole character of the town's evenings will change," she said.

"Chipping Sodbury's charm as a market town on the edge of the Cotswolds and centre for tourism will be damaged by drunkenness, noise and vandalism, and late night pubbing by young people will deter those older people who currently patronise the town's restaurants."

At a second hearing on Wednesday the licensing committee agreed to allow the pub to stay open until midnight by granting it an entertainment licence.

Landlord Peter Shelley and owner Thelma Youd were waiting to hear whether Northavon Magistrates' Court had granted them a late liquor license as the Gazette went to press.

Insp Keith Farrow told the Gazette that he hoped the licensing trade in Chipping Sodbury would now work with the police to reduce the risk of public disorder.

He said: "I am pleased that the concerns of the community have been taken into account.

"Pubs in Thornbury have agreed to undertake certain precautions, such as providing plastic glasses and to inform the police of any events that may go past the normal opening hours, to reduce the risk of public disorder.

"I hope now the licensing trade in Chipping Sodbury will do the same thing."

* In last week's Gazette Peter Shelley was wrongly described as a business partner at the Portcullis Hotel, Chipping Sodbury. He is in fact the general manager of the public house and Thelma Youd is its sole owner.