IN your report 'Late licence for two nightclubs' (August 31) your reporter claims I complained of late-night fighting and vandalism and "said the decision was 'ludicrous' before storming out of the meeting."

I had already sat through a three-hour hearing for the Nexus application. My main objections were the sound from the club which is audible in my house until closing time, and the impact that later hours would have on the area which is already the most troublesome in York.

The "acoustics expert" you referred to did not monitor the street noise himself but a technician reported to him and the findings were given to the hearing verbally. There was no proof or written evidence offered, or available, and if the hearing had been in a magistrates court it would have been inadmissible.

However, at 1pm the decision was made to grant the application with the condition that Nexus carry out more soundproofing to the front of the club so the music cannot be heard in my house. This is a basic human rights issue. Music from any premises should not be audible at the nearest inhabited facade after 11pm.

When the meeting re-convened to hear the McMillans application I was asked if I had any questions and I said: "I was leaving the hearing because I had better things to do with my time". I found the decisions to allow later hours at Reflex, Toffs and now Nexus quite farcical and there was no point in sitting there for the rest of the day just to hear a similar decision.

I did not "storm" out of the meeting but left saying my goodbyes in a calm manner - after all, I shall be back there shortly to object to the Flares application.

Andrew J Clark,

Tanner Row, York.

Updated: 08:51 Saturday, September 03, 2005