PLANS to turn a derelict pub into a "mini-nightclub" have been rejected.

More than 300 residents attended a Greenwich Council licensing meeting to voice their concerns over an application to replace the former Ship pub in Plumstead Common Road, Plumstead, with a private members' club called Bust "Da" Rhyme.

They objected to the application on the grounds it would be out of character with the area, be a public nuisance and increase crime and disorder.

The council received 262 letters and three petitions signed by hundreds of people.

This is believed to be the largest number of objections to a licensing application in Greenwich since the 2003 Licensing Act came into force.

The application was for an exclusive lounge and bar, which would be open seven days a week.

It would serve alcohol Monday to Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday to Sunday from 11am to 2am and public holidays from noon to 3am.

The applicant, Prakash Patel, agreed to certain conditions over the running of the bar, such as no-one being allowed to enter unless they were a member.

But at the meeting at Woolwich Town Hall, Woolwich, the applicant's agent, Wale Adelaja, said it never agreed to a delay of up 48 hours from applying to gaining membership, which meant the club would then be open to anyone.

As a result, committee chairman Councillor Ray Walker rejected the application, as the removal of the 48-hour condition represented a substantial change to the application.

Resident Jan Pitchell, who has been living in Plumstead Common Road, Plumstead, for 25 years, said after the meeting: "I'm really happy they rejected the application.

"It would have been an awful experience."

Shooters Hill ward councillor Danny Thorpe said: "No-one wanted a nightclub at the end of their road. The application was a farce.

"In the end, it was a different application to what the committee was presented with."