A KELSO nightclub is to be converted into residential accommodation after its boss was refused a late licence last week.

“Thank you for clarifying things in my mind,” said Ian Hastings after Scottish Borders Licensing Board rejected his bid for a 3am weekend extension at The Vibe.

“I will now change the place into flats,” he added as he left the Newtown chamber on Friday.

The businessman, who has run the premises in The Square with wife Margaret for the past 25 years, had already threatened that course of action in a letter to the board.

He claimed the The Vibe would become unviable if the exodus of punters to late opening venues in Galashiels and Berwick, where nightspots operate until 3am and 4am respectively, was allowed to go unchecked.

He wanted to extend the Friday and Saturday hours at his club – known locally as “The Sporty” – for an extra hour beyond the current 2am.

Stacked against him were objections from the police, licensing standards officer Ian Tunnah and NHS Borders which was represented by Susan Walker, development officer of the region’s alcohol and drug partnership (ADP).

The police submission took issue with Mr Hastings’ assertion that the board should alter its late opening policy because of “exceptional circumstances”.

“There are no exceptional circumstances,” said Sgt Keith Bendall. “The increase in hours would increase the availability of alcohol and therefore increase the likelihood of alcohol related violence and anti-social behaviour. These incidents would potentially continue until 4am and beyond.” Mr Tunnah claimed the extra hour would run counter to the board’s licensing objectives of preventing crime, disorder and public nuisance.

“The premises have been the subject of various neighbour complaints regarding external disturbance noise over a prolonged period,” said Mr Tunnah. “To extend the terminal hour till 3am could be likely to cause further noise nuisance and disturbance.” Ms Walker cited another of the board’s licensing objectives - protecting and improving public health - in opposing the application.

“Since 2000, over 70 research studies have demonstrated a significant association between the total number of licensed premises and opening hours in a locality with levels of alcohol related harm,” said Ms Walker.

“These premises are in Kelso South…which has the third highest rate of alcohol-related [hospital] discharges and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour incidents in the Borders.” A late submission was also received from Shirley Redgrave, secretary of Kelso Community Council, who presented a selection of largely dissenting comments from her council’s Facebook page.

Mr Hastings said the Facebook posts included one from a rival licensee in the town and thus could not be taken seriously.

He said the noise complaints were “historical and have been dealt with” and he challenged the policy, agreed by the board in February last year, that applications for terminal hours beyond 2am should only be granted in “exceptional circumstances”.

“Other than the fact Galashiels has a university, I cannot understand the exceptional circumstances which allow two night clubs in that town [both in Overhaugh Street] to open till 3am,” said Mr Hastings.

“Surely the students have a university campus on which to be entertained so if anything there is more reason for a late place in Kelso because there is nowhere else for young people to meet.” He said he did not accept that public health would suffer if his bid was successful.

“Surely getting people out of the house – away from the consumption of cheap supermarket alcohol – into a friendly, safe and controlled environment is actually a health improvement.” Despite offering to restrict the 3am licence to Saturday and to accept a temporary trial of the extra hour for six months, Mr Hasting’s application was unanimously rejected by the board.