RESIDENTS have won their campaign to stop a wine bar getting the go-ahead because of concerns about late night noise and rowdiness in their community.The town council, police and residents all raised fears about the former butchers in Wolsey Road, Stowmarket, being converted to a wine bar and licensed premises.

RESIDENTS have won their campaign to stop a wine bar getting the go-ahead because of concerns about late night noise and rowdiness in their community.

The town council, police and residents all raised fears about the former butchers in Wolsey Road, Stowmarket, being converted to a wine bar and licensed premises.

Mid Suffolk district councillors, meeting, voted to refuse planning permission despite their officers recommending it for approval, subject to conditions.

Gordon Paton, a mid Suffolk district councillor, said: "It was the right decision to turn this down, it would have been a gross intrusion for people there.

"It would have been asking for more trouble, disorderly behaviour and drunkenness particularly as it would have been away from the CCTV cameras.''

Eric Jones, mid Suffolk district councillor, said: "It was felt this was inappropriate. People were worried about the noise, not just from cars, but people congregating there for drinking.

"There is enough traffic in the area for the take-aways anyway and we were not too sure there was a demand for this.''

Gary Pullan, planning control manager at the authority, said councillors felt it would cause a nuisance to residents, exacerbate existing traffic problems, and supported the police's concerns.

Police officers argued that a new wine bar could stretch their resources, lead to complaints about noise, and parking problems.

Residents worries included under age drinking and people urinating in residents' front gardens. The town council objected, concerned at a lack of information about the bar's opening hours and parking.

Agents for applicant Pat Mead, Parkyns, had argued that the wine bar would operate within normal licensing hours and there would be a flat above the premises for the manager or a member of staff. The applicant could choose to appeal and a spokesman for Parkyns said they would now study the grounds for refusal and consider their position.

Council officers had recommended approving the application, arguing that it would be difficult to justify refusing the wine bar permission because of noise and disturbance in an area with other businesses.