RESIDENTS' hopes of getting Ulverston nightclub Buffers moved out of their neighbourhood have been dashed again after its public entertainment licence was renewed this week.

The Station Approach nightspot was sanctioned to carry on serving up disco and drinks from 9pm until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 1am for any mid-week functions.

But South Lakeland District Council's licensing committee rejected a bid by Buffers' management to let people into the club half-an-hour later than usual at 12.30am on Bank Holiday weekends to fit in with extended hours in the town's pubs.

The renewal came in spite of continuing appeals by some club neighbours to close the venue and end the anti-social behaviour they say blights their lives.

Residents' spokesman Ian Barnes said: "The situation has improved but it is still not acceptable. There is no doubt that the location of this club in a residential area is having a detrimental affect on our lives. We would prefer the licence not to be granted at all."

Yet the mood of this week's licensing meeting was noticeably less hostile than in 2004 when more than 60 letters of objection were submitted against the renewal of Buffers' public entertainment licence and the extension of its hours until 3am. There were 26 objections this time round.

Residents acknowledged that there had been less disturbance generated by club-goers at closing time as a result of more police patrols and the club's new warden' scheme.

Two Buffers bouncers have been patrolling pavements since November to stop rowdy revellers loitering near homes between 2am and 3am. There have also been regular meetings between club management, police and SLDC licensing officers. A residents' forum is also being set up.

Mr Barnes recognised the efforts to limit disturbance but added there was usually less trouble in winter anyway as people tended not to loiter in the cold. Others said police statistics would never reflect the real amount of disturbance because residents did not report everything.

The committee agreed to renew Buffers' licence but only for six months and attached a raft of new conditions recommended by police and which the club is already adhering to on a voluntary basis, covering matters such as having an anti-drugs policy.

After the meeting, SLDC principal licensing officer Steve Wearing said the licence conditions would be vigorously upheld. He added that an occasion on New Year's Eve, when up to 300 people were allowed into the club past the sanctioned last admission time of midnight, had arisen from a "mis-understanding". He said police advised Buffers there would be no objection if it applied for a late licence but the club interpreted that as permission to allow in late-comers. However, club manager Steve Teare earlier told the licensing hearing, that Ulverston inspector Richard Vernon told him to let in any large groups who turned up after midnight in order to avoid disturbance on the street.