A PLAN to allow a pub to stay open after midnight was one of the most controversial proposals of the last six months.

Permission was granted on Wednesday for the The Sussex Cricketer in Eaton Road to stay open until 12.30am – an hour later than previously proposed.

The green light was given despite 22 objections from residents who feared boozed-up pub-goers will cause nuisance to Sussex County Cricket Ground’s neighbours.

The Argus has trawled through more than 1,800 planning applications made to Brighton and Hove City Council over the last half a year.

By comparing the number of objections from the community, we can reveal these plans were the seventh most controversial.

Residents said the application to open the pub’s doors until after midnight was a “snub” to local residents.

One said: “An extra hour of licensing in a quiet residential area with the problems of extra noise, traffic and possibly security issues is obviously not appropriate.

“This is a snub to the goodwill originally shown by the residents to the development and it feels like an act of bad faith on behalf of the developers.

“Plus it is contrary to the pledge of enhancement to the area that was made in the original application.”

Another said: “The pub adjoins many residential blocks and noise nuisance past the previous 11.30 curfew is unwarranted and would adversely affect the quality of life in the area for everyone.

“Church Road, where there are ample facilities for the night time economy also clearly demonstrates, on any Friday and Saturday night, that noise nuisance and antisocial behaviour are to be expected with that late licence.

“This is unacceptable for a residential area.”

The pub is part of the £20,000,000 building – which includes 37 flats – on land near the County Ground.

The Sussex Cricket Estate, which made the application, said the pervious 11.30pm condition was “unacceptable”.

It cited a review which found all pubs under a mile away closed at 12.30am – the same time as the previous Sussex Cricketer pub.