Medway has not yet accepted it is a "university town", says a councillor who voted in favour of extending the opening hours of a student bar.

The council’s planning committee granted a 'trial' one-year licence to CARGO bar/bistro on Pier Road in Gillingham, allowing it to open until midnight every night.

It also permits the venue to trade until 5am for up to 10 days during the academic year.

Neighbours claiming to be at their "wits' end" called for the extended hours to be rejected - views reinforced by member Cllr Dan McDonald (Lab).

He told the committee: “I don’t want to be a party pooper here, but I’m afraid I totally disagree in regards to the recommendation for approval.

“The 5am extension is way too excessive. We’re only talking about 10 nights here, but already there are problems with this venue with noise and anti-social behaviour especially - not just outside, but in neighbouring streets.

“Only this week one of the doors of the bar was smashed through, so there is anti-social behaviour.

"I think sometimes we forget this isn’t a university campus or even a town centre location – it’s a residential area.”

The university says its “loyal following of supporters of world sports” is the reason behind its proposal to open until 5am on selected occasions, meaning it can show live baseball, American football and basketball on television.

Cllr Martin Potter (Con) said: “There’s going to be a different clientele and they’re likely to stay for the whole event.

"They will be absolutely knackered by the time it finishes, and they will just want to go home and to bed, rather than make noise or whatever else.”

As part of the changes, students will also be allowed to bring "guests" – described as parents, other relatives or non-student friends – after 11pm, something previously prohibited.

Cllr Stuart Tranter (Con) concluded: “We are now a university town and this is an incredibly important part of our future in Medway.

"We have something like 12,000 students and we’ve got to find a way of coping with young people who sometimes get a little bit boisterous.

“We must not become old and grumpy against everything – we’ve got to try and find ways for young people in the right place, at the right time.

“I feel in Medway we’re still coming to terms that we’re a university town and I don’t think we’ve fully grasped what that means.”

Cllrs McDonald, Gilry and Griffiths (all Lab) voted against the proposal.