Residents and businesses near proposed Chippenham nightclub SN15 say they are appalled and devastated it has been granted a licence.

New management SN15 Leisure Ltd has promised there will not be a return to the crime and disorder associated with Karma, the club in the same building that had its licence revoked in 2011, but those living in St Mary’s Place opposite are unconvinced.

One resident said: “It makes a mockery of council elections. We’ve had 19 years of hell.”

Neighbour Allan Clyde, 67, said: “I am appalled. The people who have granted this are detached from the needs of this community. Even the police were against it.

“We had problems with rowdy customers pouring out at 3am, urinating in the street, having sex in the corners. The club doesn’t have any control when its customers leave the building. The priest had to go around with a mop and bucket cleaning up the urine before parishioners arrived.”

A member of staff at Noteworthy Music on Station Hill said: “I’ve found beer glasses left around the back. I’ve had a couple of punctures on my car from smashed glass and been called out by security at 3.30am for a broken window.

“We’ve caught people peeing on our wall. One of the worst things was arriving in the morning to find sick all down the front door. It’s disgusting and it’s us who have to clean that up.

“We don’t want to ruin people’s fun, but I hope it is managed better this time.”

That was the promise made at last Wednes-day’s licensing hearing.

Philip Kolvin QC, representing SN15 Leisure Ltd, said: “My client will make sure taxi numbers are given out and drinks are not taken with them when they leave. Their responsibility goes further than the four walls of the building.

“The biggest message is that there is no connection between the old and new management and that is absolutely true.”

The licence was granted on the condition that an outside patio area is only used after 11pm for the purpose of smoking, by a maximum of 40 people, and no drinks are taken outside.

Wiltshire councillor for Monkton Chris Caswill, who spoke against the licence, successfully argued that there should be a minimum of two door staff at the main entrance.

He added: “If they are truly concerned, to prevent the exit of alcohol-fuelled patrons down the lane beside the Rotary hall, they would consider making a contribution to a gate. That would bring considerable comfort to the residents.”

Darren Godwin, 38, of St Mary’s Place, said: “All hell is going to break loose. We can’t stop it, so I’m going to speak to the Rotary Club about getting a gate across the alleyway to minimise disruption.”