SWINDON'S only gay nightclub faces closure. The London Street club was last night refused permission to expand by the council's Planning Committee.

The propoal had met with strong opposition from neighbouring residents worried that it would bring an increase in noise and lewd behaviour.

The expansion was turned down by three votes with opponents sighting its locality and lack of amenities.

Coun Phillip Demmen (Lab, Central) said: "There will be no added car parking if the club is expanded. It is in the wrong location. It is a residential area."

John Taylor (Lab, Central) was insistent the club should not expand.

Coun Taylor said: "The application to expand would have had a damaging impact on the quality of life for the residents of Shepard Street, East Street and London Street."

The vote against the 200-capacity club means that it will now have to apply afresh for permission to continue operating in its current format.

Temporary permission was granted in 1998 for the premises, formerly a carriage works of the Great Western Railway, to be used as a nightclub.

The temporary permit ran out in September 2001. Since then the club has been operating without the required authority.

Anne Baxter (Lib Dem, Eastcott) was outraged by her colleagues' decision.

Coun Baxter said: "They need somewhere to go. The gay club has got to have a venue.

"The decision means they might be closed down altogether. I will be backing any new application they submit to continue."

Doreen Dart (Con, Blunsdon) said she had backed the application wholeheartedly.

Coun Dart said: "It is only since this planning application has been in the public domain that we have heard all the complaints about it.

"I visited the club at night and heard nothing at all coming from it. The noise was coming from other clubs in the area further down the road towards the station.

"It has existed without complaints for four years."

A 200-strong petition supporting the expansion had been put forward, including signatures from nearby pubs.

The club now has three months in which to apply for permission to continue running.