Plans for a new hotel have moved a step closer after it was handed a licence to sell alcohol until 12.30am.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s licensing act sub-committee awarded the Premier Inn the licence it was seeking on Monday, despite protests from a resident and councillor Paul Farmer.

Mr Farmer and resident Jeanne Bartlett were concerned about the impact revellers leaving the hotel –proposed for the New Shire Hall in Raingate Street – will have on the area. Mr Farmer called for the hotel to stop serving all non-guests at 11pm. The hotel did alter its original application and will only serve alcohol to guests and friends of guests after 11pm, closing at 1am. Two objectors had withdrawn concerns after this change.

Lawyer John Gaunt, representing Premier Inn, said: “I have been around long enough to see hotels in planning through to opening and 10 years down the line, and the problems do not happen.

“You have to remember the closest residents are our guests. It’s something we manage proactively and professionally.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Farmer said: “I’m obviously disappointed for residents who I represent. It is a very quiet part of the town and I wouldn’t like to see that spoiled in any way.

“I hope very much the reassurances given by the Premier Inn mean there is no anti-social behaviour.”