THE part owner of a florist shop has spoken of her anger at plans to expand nightlife at an historic Ipswich Hotel.Ann Burtenshaw, partner of Bedwells Florist in Northgate Street, said proposals to increase evening entertainment at the Great White Horse Hotel would affect local traders in the area.

THE part owner of a florist shop has spoken of her anger at plans to expand nightlife at an historic Ipswich Hotel.

Ann Burtenshaw, partner of Bedwells Florist in Northgate Street, said proposals to increase evening entertainment at the Great White Horse Hotel would affect local traders in the area.

The 55-year-old, whose shop has been trading in Northgate Street for more than 40 years, said she spends every weekend mopping up mess left by "drunken louts" who urinate on her premises.

Mrs Burtenshaw said: "Regularly we have to clean our step and our shop floor from urine where the men relieve themselves in the doorway. I am totally against yet another night spot in this area of the town and I shall be objecting officially when the application for planning is printed.

"We have insufficient police to check this area at night. We have traded in this town for over fifty years and from these premises for nearly 40. It is turning into a horrible town."

Ricky Jarvis, the new manager of the Great White Horse, earlier this month spoke of his hopes to regrade the hotel and transform it into a "chameleon"-style venue – a place which changes from being somewhere for breakfast, a place for lunch, a café, to a pub then to a nightspot.

With investment from new owners Wizard Inns, he said it was hoped the hotel could launch its own weekend events to attract clubbers as well as continuing with monthly club nights.

A spokesman for Wizard Inns said the hotel's late licence had come up for renewal and the company would be trying to renew that licence.

"We are now running less functions than the previous owners. We have an older audience than some of the other local establishments in the town," he added.

The spokesman said the company worked closely with the police and the local authority to curb problems associated with late night drinking.

Ipswich sector commander Chief Insp Chris Mayhew said: "With the re-development of areas around the town such as Cardinal Park and the docks area, it would be unrealistic not to expect some rise in violent crime, specifically that related to alcohol misuse.

"Local police, borough and county councillors, pub and nightclub management work closely together to provide the safest possible environment in which people can enjoy themselves."