LATE night plans to open a York sports club bar until 2am have been rejected by licensing bosses.

Committee members of York Railway Institute Outdoor Sports Club, off Hamilton Drive, wanted to serve alcohol until 2am on Friday and Saturday.

But neighbours said the move would breach an earlier planning agreement that paved the way for a £1 million upgrade of the facilities.

Planners gave the green light for new changing rooms, better social rooms, a junior club house room, netball courts and disabled toilets in July last year.

But at that time the club agreed to close the premises by 11.45pm, after residents voiced their fears of extra late night noise and disturbance. Residents said the situation had not changed.

John Lacy, acting licensing manager at City of York Council, said the business was only the second in the city to have its bid for extra hours turned down.

The Evening Press reported earlier this year how councillors rejected an application by the Charles XII pub, in Heslington, to open until midnight after furious opposition from dozens of residents.

Two weeks later, a similar application by the nearby Deramore Arms was withdrawn after more than 100 objections were lodged with the local authority.

Sean Heslop, chairman of the club, said the decision was not a setback, and that members wanted to keep good relations with neighbouring residents.

He said the late licence would have enabled the club to raise extra money from late functions.

"We would only have had the occasional later event," he said.

"It would have helped us towards achieving our (financial) goal, but it would not have been a large contributor."

Two residents attended the meeting at York Guildhall.

In a letter to the council, Sandra Noble, of Mattison Way, which backs on to the club house, said she already suffered noise nuisance. She said: "I find it hard to believe a licence has been given at all with the club house being right next door to a residential area."

Updated: 10:50 Friday, September 02, 2005