THE operator of a nightclub due to open in Old Town is being urged to reduce its trading hours to help cut crime and disorder.

Tiger Bills will have a 6am licence which still stands from the Studio nightclub, which occupied the former Belmont Brewery building before closing in 2005.

But some residents say when the venue was open before, they were victims of drink-fuelled crime, as revellers descended on the late-night club.

Now they are calling on the operator to apply to Swindon Council for a new licence with reduced hours, similar to town centre venues, to prevent the late-night rush into Old Town.

Toby Robson, 41, of Prospect Hill, who is supporting the request, said residents had seen revellers getting into fights, urinating in front gardens, and snapping-off car wing mirrors.

“If it becomes known this place has a licence that keeps them open a great deal later than other places, people are going to move between venues,” he said.

“So they will start drinking up in the town and when it gets to 1am or 2am and the venues start shutting down, people will move on to the place with a later licence.”

Coun Dave Wood (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said when the club was last open residents saw a ‘corridor of nuisance’ between the Old Town club and the town centre.

“People walking between one and the other late at night created problems by cutting through residential streets, a small number of trouble-makers breaking car wing mirrors and creating noise late at night in family areas,” he said.

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said it created an intolerable situation for residents.

“The Old Town night-time economy is important but we want to appeal to the new nightclub owners to apply for a licence which does not run until 6am,” he said.

Tiger Bills will be part of a wider redevelopment. The historic building will house the bar, a restaurant and hairdressers.

Tomorrow, the planning committee will be asked to change the planning conditions to allow the use of a front roof terrace until 2am daily, instead of until 10am from Sunday to Thursday, and until 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

Wiltshire Police support the proposal, explaining that it would postpone the issue of smokers taking their drinks into the streets when the terrace closes early, and will lessen the impact on residents.

The police also say there was an offer from the premises owners to change the conditions on the licence which would effectively move the opening hours to 2.30am, so officers would see if the offer still stands if permission is granted.