A CONTROVERSIAL Salisbury pub has been given the go-ahead to stay open until midnight, despite objections from people living nearby.

The Town House in Bridge Street withdrew its original application to open until 2am and offered not to allow entry to anyone after 10.30pm.

Objectors living within earshot of the pub said the Fisherton Street and Bridge Street area already attracts enough noisy revellers but Salisbury district councillors ruled that the landlord was taking sufficient measures to keep any disturbance to a minimum.

Council licensing officer Tony Oke said the policy of closing the doors at 10.30pm would cut down noise from people moving between pubs in search of a late drink.

He said: "It is an idea which is acceptable for the Town House and could perhaps be taken on board by other establishments."

Cllr Simon Howarth said: "If the application had come in a year ago I would have been very concerned, but since then the way the Town House is run has improved markedly."

The Bridge Street area is identified by the police as a potential flashpoint, but there is no evidence to identify the Town House as the source of those problems."