CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Bournemouth-based bar chain to extend the opening hours of its Winton base are to be considered by councillors next week.

Residents have criticised the proposals put forward by Buffalo Bar, raising fears about the potential for an 'intolerable rise in crime and disorder in the area'.

Their concerns have been echoed by Cllr Simon Bull who said that longer opening hours would increase anti-social behaviour around its Wimborne Road venue.

Buffalo Bar took over the former Hop and Kilderkin pub earlier this year, following the opening of its first premises in Lansdowne in March.

Its owner, Thomas Russell, said that they had been looking for a new venue in Winton since shutting a bar there in January.

After taking over the building, he submitted proposals to amend the building’s licence to allow it to stay open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and 1am through the rest of the week – two hours later than it is allowed currently.

However, residents have criticised the proposals, warning that it would increase anti-social behaviour and could create a public safety risk.

Objecting to the opening hours extension, resident Diane Rees said: “I already suffer from noise, disorder and anti-social behaviour with revellers returning home from a night of drinking before midnight.

“To allow an establishment on my doorstep to serve alcohol nightly until 1am, and twice weekly until 2am, will be intolerable.”

Cllr Bull, who is also among the more than a dozen people to have submitted letters opposing the plans, said that extending the bar’s hours was “likely to cause an increase in crime and disorder through drunkenness”.

However, Mr Russell, who also owns The Four Horsemen in Commercial Road and The Anvil in Lansdowne, said that he would work closely with neighbours to limit any impact.

He said that their previous experience of running other venues across Bournemouth put them in good stead to deal with any problems which might arise.

Members of the council’s licensing board will meet on Tuesday (November 13) to consider whether to grant the extended licence.