PLANS have been approved for a new nightclub in Redcar, despite objections.

But owner Paul Raffique still has to get his plans for the club at 28 The Esplanade, Redcar, past the licensing committee.

Only two letters of objection were received by the council, both from similar businesses. The letters were considered at a Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council planning meeting on Wednesday. Management from neighbouring clubs The Top Deck and Leos and Silks claimed that Redcar was already at saturation point for nightclubs. The issue of parking and other traffic problems were also raised.

A report recommending approval for the nightclub was debated by the planning committee at Eston Town Hall.

Chairman of the planning committee, Helen McLuckie, said: "When it came to it there was no planning reason to refuse permission. Competition just is not a reason to turn down any application."

Meanwhile, the planning committee refused a number of other applications.

A plan to convert a house into three apartments at 24 Diamond Street, Saltburn; an application to construct a waste transfer operations site to recycle rubble and soil at Skipfreight Junction Works on Normanby Road, South Bank, and a plan to build a shopping and food and drink outlet on Skippers Lane Industrial Estate, were all turned down.

Councillors cited location problems for turning down each application.

However, the committee agreed to visit the site where Bellway Homes want to build 28 houses at Parkgate, Eston, before making a decision.