A BID by a city centre bar to extend its midweek hours to 3am has led to opposition.

The objections has been raised by Watergate Row South flat dweller Mrs L Benskin who lives above the Fiesta Havana at 39 - 41 Watergate Street.

Luton based applicants La Tasca Restaurants have told licensing officers at the City Council they are seeking the extra hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The premises would close at 3.45am.

The bar is also seeking to lift a condition which limits the number of patrons to 400 unless there is prior approval.

Mrs Benskin says: “As a resident living immediately above the bar, I wish to object on the grounds that such an extension, if allowed, will cause public nuisance by way of noise emanating from the premises.”

She claims that noise levels from the bar are already “particularly high on a Friday and Saturday night” but adds: “To a certain extent we have learned to accept and live with the additional noise at weekends.”

To extend licensed hours to 3am on a week night would cause an increase in noise and disruption to sleep for those who have a full time job to hold down, she insists.

“If the extension is provided, in light of the numbers of people that congregate outside to smoke, the noise levels will increase to a later hour and cause disruption to nearby residents,” she believes.

Mrs Benskin concludes: “I hope the licensing committee will note our concerns when considering if the extension of time is really necessary.”

The application to vary the premises licence is due to be considered at a meeting of the city council's Licensing Act sub committee taking place on the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday (January 13) at 10.30am.