Plans for a Wetherspoons pub which would be open until 1.30am on weekends have led to fears about late night noise and disruption.

In May last year, JD Wetherspoon had its plan to build a new pub at 1-5 The Mount in the Wirral town of Heswall accepted.

The conditions of Wirral Council’s decision meant it would not be able to open outside the hours of 9am-11.30pm.

However, JD Wetherspoon wants the pub to be open between 8am and 1.30am on Friday and Saturday, with 8am-00.30am the pub’s opening hours from Sunday-Thursday.

This has led to serious concerns from locals about the potential impact of late night noise on the town.

Last July, the later hours were rejected by the local authority, but the pub chain is now putting forward a plan to open at the same times once again.

The new venue, which would take over the site of the former Exchange Bar, would be bigger than the old bar with a larger beer garden at the front.

The company insisted it will also mean a £2.2m investment in the area with 50 full and part-time jobs created.

But the Heswall Society, a residents’ group with an estimated membership of 1,000 people, opposes the plan.

Its planning officer Roger Lane said: “There are many residential properties very close by, and we believe from a protracted history of noise issues that this would affect them quite badly.”

Posting on a Facebook community group for Heswall and surrounding areas Pensby, Irby and Thingwall, some locals agreed with the Heswall Society.

One person said: “I hope your objection is accepted and if there is anything for us residents to sign to join you please link it!”

While another sarcastically added: “Just what Heswall needs. Another bar and eating place.”

However, other members of the community group thought the pub would be a good addition to the town.

One person said: “I appreciate there may be concerns, however surely Heswall should appreciate big investors. Small businesses are great, and those that can afford to support them do.

“However there will always be different levels of clientele that cannot afford £5 a pint in the Devon Doorway for example that would like a pint just as much. Competition is healthy.

“Night time economy brings younger generations to want to settle in the area. We need to fill empty premises.”

Another supporter of the plans added: “Wetherspoons will be investing money and creating much needed jobs as we come out of a pandemic and doubtless enter a severe recession. That building is an eyesore.”

If the plan remains similar to the one which was accepted before JD Wetherspoon requested longer opening hours, an extended kitchen will be built to cater for increased demand replacing the beer garden at the back of the site.

To make up for that, the size of the beer garden at the front of the pub will be increased.

JD Wetherspoon also committed to making the pub more attractive, with raised flower beds, a timber canopy and seating, with the whole area paved. The aim being to increase vegetation on the site.

The new pub would also be a lot bigger than its predecessor.

The ground floor area is currently 300 square metres, but this will increase to 579 square metres, with 205 square metres for the new customer area and 74 square metres for the new kitchen.

Eddie Gershon, a spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon, said: “We are keen to operate the hours which have been made in the application.

“We will of course take into account the concerns of the neighbours, but our experience of operating premises in residential areas with similar hours, given [the pub chain’s] focus on food and lack of music, has not caused issues to the respective local communities.

“The company has exchanged on the property, conditional on planning and licensing being granted.

“We believe the pub will be a great asset to the area and act as a catalyst for further investment in Heswall.

“Our plans are to invest £2.2 million and create 50 full and part-time jobs.”