A SENIOR Christchurch councillor said she didn't want the town becoming known as a "retirement village".

The comments were made during a public meeting to discuss residents' concerns about the negative impact some elements of the night-time economy were having on the town.

It follows a recent council decision to grant permission for town centre bar Soho to open later, until 3am.

Speaking at the meeting at Christchurch Priory on Wednesday (Apr26) Cllr Sue Spittle said it was important to "keep Christchurch vibrant in order to keep youngsters in the town".

“We don’t want to be known as a retirement village,” she added.

“I understand that there’s problems in regard to a certain amount of anti-social behaviour but there always has been. We need to support one and other.”

Around 100 people packed out the priory for the meeting - with a large number voicing their support for the businesses in the town which support the night-time economy.

Simon Wyatt-Budd the co-owner of the Thomas Tripp pub in Wick Lane said that for Christchurch to succeed there needs to be a night-time offering.

Speaking at the meeting he said residents and visitors to the town have plenty to do during the day time with the Priory, the Quomps and the Quay but the town needs to provide entertainment at night.

His opinions were echoed by a number of other speakers at the meeting who “didn’t think it was that bad in Christchurch” and that some of the speakers were “exaggerating the situation”.

One town centre resident said: “What has changed is that Christchurch has become much more popular dine out and have a drink. People no longer want to go into Bournemouth, but instead people come here for a night out.”

A number of other residents also questioned why the people complaining "chose to buy a house or live so close to a pub or bar".

But meeting organiser Steven Toomer, who lives in Wick Lane, said there was a real problem with anti-social behaviour due to the late night drink offering in the town.

He said there had been an increase in "vomit on the streets and other bodily fluids" calling it "outrageous".

“How are people allowed to get so drunk that they don’t really know what they are doing?" he added.

“This is a residential area and there needs to be a little bit of respect.”

Just a few weeks ago, business owners blocked the Church Street public footpath under the archway after a large pool of vomit was left by a reveller the night before.

He called on the businesses in the town get together to employ someone to help keep the town tidy and wash down the pavements on a Saturday and Sunday morning.

There were also concerns raised about noise levels due to music and revellers drinking in the beer gardens.

Minutes of the meeting will be sent to the chief executive and leader of Christchurch Borough Council as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner.