RESIDENTS have complained about plans submitted to increase the opening hours of a Selby town centre beer garden.

Operators of the Giant Bellflower Wetherspoons pub in Gowthorpe have applied to extend the hours its garden can open earlier in the morning until later at night, due to "customer demand".

When the change of use was agreed by Selby District Council, allowing the pub chain the opportunity to take over the former Everatt's furniture store in March 2013, the building underwent a £1.37 million refurbishment to create the pub, and 46 new jobs were brought to the town.

When they approved the venue, the council applied a series of conditions to the site, including one which restricted the opening of the beer garden to between 11am and 9pm daily, to ensure noise from the beer garden did not disturb local residents.

A statement sent with the plans said the application wanted to "enable the beer garden at the premises to remain open between 8am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

"The hours requested are in response to both customer demand and a business need. The current restriction is limiting trade as customers leave the premises in search of a beer garden with later closing hours."

A number of local residents have already objected to the application by the venue, which was named for Thomas Johnson, a 17th Century herbalist who found many examples of the giant bellflower on the banks of the Ouse in Selby.

One said: "I have some concerns about the increased noise levels for extended hours in the beer garden in what is primarily a mixed residential and business area. This is particularly so on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, when there appears to be an increase in overall trade."

The application said: "We are not aware that there have been any material complaints from the police or local residents about the operation of the pub since the pub opened.

"Nor are we aware that there have been any complaints regarding noise and disturbance. The premises are within a town centre, which is considered to be an appropriate location for premises that operate later in the evening."

The plans will go before the council next month.