Chris HillA Dereham pub has renewed attempts to stay open until 5am after a previous application was denied amid fears it could increase antisocial behaviour.The Plough & Furrow in Quebec Street has applied to Breckland Council for permission to vary the premises licence which governs when it can open, sell alcohol, and play live and recorded music.Chris Hill

A Dereham pub has renewed attempts to stay open until 5am after a previous application was denied amid fears it could increase antisocial behaviour.

The Plough & Furrow in Quebec Street has applied to Breckland Council for permission to vary the premises licence which governs when it can open, sell alcohol, and play live and recorded music.

The venue, located in a basement beneath the Hollywood cinema, can currently open until 1.30am from Monday to Wednesday, 2.30am on Thursdays, 3.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and 12.30am on Sundays.

In December, an application to extend the weekend opening hours until 5am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2.30am on Sunday, was refused after police officers and town councillors raised concerns it could lead to more rowdy late-night behaviour in the centre of Dereham.

A new application, similar to the previous one and with the same proposed opening hours, will be discussed by Breckland's licensing sub-committee on May 10.

A letter from Norfolk police maintains the constabulary's objection on the grounds that crime prevention and disorder objectives 'could be undermined', with the Splitz nightclub only 400m away.

It says: 'Due to the mix of licensed venues in this close-knit area, records show that Quebec Street generates the highest number of incidents in Dereham in the late evening and early hours at the weekends that require the attendance of emergency services, usually police or ambulance.

'It is common practice for constant migration of customers between the Plough & Furrow and Splitz along Quebec Street and there are often tensions between different groups which convert into incidents along Quebec Street itself.'