MAGISTRATES have set aside three days to consider a late-night licence application for York's Barbican Centre, after receiving more than 30 objections.

Absolute Leisure, which will operate the centre following its privatisation by City of York Council, wants to extend opening hours until 2am.

But a York Magistrates Court spokesman said that 32 individual objections had been lodged, many from local residents concerned about noise and disorder. Objections had also been raised by Luminar Leisure, which operates the Gallery, Toffs and Ikon and Diva nightclubs in York.

One of the objectors, Ernie Dickinson, of the campaign group Save Our Barbican (SOB), which has been fighting the council's plans to sell off the centre, said: "Many members of SOB are local residents as well as Barbican users, and they are worried about late-night noise and also light pollution from what will, effectively, be a nightclub."

He said concerns had mostly been raised by people living in Barbican Road, overlooking the centre, and in Heslington Road, which people might drive and walk along after spending the evening at the Barbican.

Another objector, Maria Dodd, who lives in Barbican Road, said: "This is a residential area, and we do not want a late-night facility, with people spilling out into the streets in the early hours."

She said there were already enough problems with people walking along the road late at night, making a noise and throwing cans and other objects in gardens.

But Tony Knox, managing director of Absolute Leisure, said that a nightclub was not being proposed, and the kind of problems people might associate with clubs, such as disorder, would not happen. What was being proposed was a lounge bar, with an emphasis on eating.

Nor would a late licence would result in a large crowd of people suddenly spilling out into the street. It meant people's departures would be staggered, instead of 1,000 emerging all at once - in line with the Government's thinking on the relaxation of closing time.

Mr Knox said issues such as light pollution were addressed during the planning process for the Barbican redevelopment scheme.

The application for a provisional on-licence and special hours certificate will be heard on November 16, 17 and 18.

Updated: 09:58 Tuesday, September 14, 2004