HISTORY looks set to repeat itself over a controversial plan to introduce a nightclub into an East Cleveland village.

Kenneth Morley from The Lodge, in Liverton Mines, applied to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for a public entertainment licence so that the venue on Cleveland Street could be open until 2am every Friday and Saturday.

The Lodge has been at the centre of controversy in the village since Mr Morley first applied for a late licence in December 1999.

At the time the council, police and local residents objected. But at an appeal at Teesside Magistrates Court in March last year, a licence was granted allowing the venue to stay open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Now Mr Morley is trying to get The Lodge open until 2am and has gone back to the council's licensing committee for an extension to his current licence.

The Cleveland Police force has objected to the proposal and, in a letter to the council, expressed concern about a change in the demand for police resources the nightclub would bring. They say that if police are outside a nightclub at 2am they can't be fighting crime elsewhere in East Cleveland.

Local residents have also come out in force against the application.

Jack and Margaret Skelton, of Low Cleveland Street, said: "The noise that comes from The Lodge does not stop until 12.20am, preventing us from sleeping.

"We have the added inconvenience of the shouting and the brawling and fighting that starts outside, bringing the added worry for the safety of our property, our possessions and ourselves.

"The Lodge, if it was granted this new licence, would totally destroy our quality of life."

The licensing committee has deferred the application for a special hearing which will take place at 1pm on Thursday, July 12 at Eston Town Hall.