'Late drinking' test case

The Wilton in Wilton Road will apply under new government legislation for a variation of licence to serve alcohol and play music until 1am in its ground floor bar on Fridays and Saturdays and until 2am in its Cellars bar.

The application is being opposed by neighbours and by police on the grounds of its possible effect on law and disorder in the town centre, currently the subject of a police Dispersal Order taken out to deal with unconnected matters.

The Wilton's is one of the first two contested applications for longer licensing hours to be dealt with by Rother council next Wednesday under new licensing legislation which has transferred responsibility from magistrates courts to town halls.

A licensing panel of three Rother members - Cllr Brian Gadd and Cllr Chris Starnes of Bexhill and Cllr John Potter of Ticehurst - sitting at the Town Hall at 9.30am will hear the applications.

The other application is by Ye Olde Belle in High Street, Rye.

The panel will hear evidence in both instances from the applicants, the police and neighbours who have written to the council.