OPPOSITION from townspeople has forced the pub chain Wetherspoons to withdrawn its late opening plans at its new pub in Sidcup.

The pub, called the Tailor’s Chalk has replaced the former Hogshead in Sidcup High Street.

The company applied to Bexley Council for planning permission to open the two-storey pub until 11pm on Monday to Thursday; 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 10.30pm on Sunday plus 30 minutes drinking-up time.

But it had hoped to stay open until 12.30am on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of bank holiday weekends and on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and to open late on New Year’s Eve.

The late opening hours were opposed by individual residents, Manor House Residents’ Association and Sidcup Town Partnership.

Before last week’s planning control committee could consider the application, Wetherspoons withdrew its late opening plans for bank holidays and other special dates except New Year, in favour of its standard opening times.

Despite the public’s objections, committee members considered the revised opening times were reasonable and approved the application.