WORRIED residents have hit out at plans for late-night drinking at a pub in the South Bank area of York.

Householders living near The Knavesmire pub, in Albemarle Road, claim proposals to stay open until as late as 1am would leave them and their children unable to get to sleep.

Some claim they already suffer from shouting, screaming and foul language as customers leave the pub at the traditional closing time.

Their objections come as the trickle of applications to City of York Council by pubs and clubs for late licences turns into a flood.

Legal notices advertising such proposals are appearing in the Evening Press at the rate of two or three a night.

The Knavesmire application will be considered at a licensing committee meeting tomorrow.

The pub is seeking permission to stay open until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and until 1am from Thursday to Saturday.

Fiona Wharton, of Knavesmire Crescent, told the council she had young children whose bedroom overlooked the back of the pub.

She said: "Later hours will mean we cannot open their bedroom windows even for ventilation, because of the noise from music and people arriving and leaving.

"Our children are entitled to undisturbed sleep at night if they are to thrive...We already receive foul abuse from late-night drinkers leaving the pub, shouting and screaming and using foul language."

Debbie Salter, also of Knavesmire Crescent, said her family, which included two children, had had to put up with noise and nuisance created by the pub over the years. She said: "I feel that extending the hours would prove unbearable for a number of reasons."

She felt it would attract customers from other areas without a late licence and there would be problems of doors banging and engines revving from customers' car parked in the street.

Environmental health officers say if the committee agrees to the licence, windows and doors should be kept closed after 9pm, and a customer dispersal policy should be drawn up to minimise nuisance as customers leave the premises.

A spokesman for the pub said no one was prepared to comment on the application.

Meanwhile, as reported in the Evening Press last week, more than 100 objections have been made to plans for late opening at the Deramore Arms, in Heslington.

Villagers are hoping for a second victory, having successfully thwarted similar plans by another village pub, the Charles XII, earlier this month.

They claim their sleep would be disturbed by late-night noise and disruption. One claimed Heslington was primarily a residential area, and "not the place for late-night revelry."

Richard Frost, chairman of Heslington Parish Council said: "Extending the opening hours will make residents' lives even more of a misery. Under the current licence, it is already well after 11pm when the last person leaves the pub and the new 30-minute drinking-up period will push this closer to midnight."

Councillor Dr Jeffrey Stern said: "Heslington is a special case because it is home to around 10,000 students. The clientele at this and the other village pub, the Charles XII nearby, are therefore immature, inconsiderate and simply cannot hold their drink."

The application is due to be considered at a licensing meeting next Monday, with councillors given the options of refusing it, granting it or granting it with extra conditions attached.

Late licence applications

LATE night licence applications received recently by City of York Council include:

Flying Legends, Clifton Moor: Wants to sell alcohol until midnight Sunday to Wednesday, and until 1am Thursday to Saturday.

Fox Inn, Stockton- on-the-Forest: Wants to sell alcohol until midnight Sunday to Wednesday, and until 1am Thursday to Saturday.

Cottage Inn, Haxby: Wants to sell alcohol until 1am.

Dringhouses Sports and Social Club: Wants to sell alcohol until 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, and until 12.30 am Friday to Sunday.

Half Moon, Strensall: Wants to sell alcohol for an additional hour Monday to Thursday, an additional two hours Friday to Saturday and an additional 90 minutes on Sundays.

Grey Horse, Elvington: Wants to sell alcohol for an additional two hours Monday to Saturday, and 90 minutes more on Sundays.

First Hussar, North Street, York: Wants to sell alcohol for additional hour Monday to Thursday, an additional two hours on Fridays and Saturdays, and 90 minutes more on Sundays.

Harkers Caf Bar, St Helen's Square, York: Wants to sell alcohol until midnight Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Derwent Arms, Osbaldwick: Wants to sell alcohol until midnight Monday to Thursday, and Sunday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bay Horse, Blossom Street: Wants to sell alcohol until midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Updated: 10:04 Wednesday, July 27, 2005