FEARS about behaviour in and around a new Weymouth town centre business have been raised during a licensing application for the Tropical Turtle restaurant and bar in Maiden Street.

Those behind the venture say it will greatly improve conditions for residents and those visiting the town.

Applicant Mr Kristian Barker told an online licensing panel that the business will be primarily a family restaurant serving Caribbean food with a small bar – with last orders by 11pm and no off sales.

The estimated capacity of the building has been put at around 50, including around 15 in the bar area - a quarter of what it was.

His agent, Tim Munro, stressed that the use of the building would be nothing like a previous bar on the site which had been closed by police and licensing officers.

He told a Dorset Council licensing panel that it would be obvious to anyone that it was no longer a drinking establishment.

It would be a food-led business although people could just come into the bar for a drink, or to have a drink while they waited to pick up a take-away meal.

The application originally attracted three objections, from ward councillor Jon Orrell and Weymouth town council, which were later withdrawn, leaving the residents’ group, Respect Weymouth, the only objector.

Neither the police or any other statutory consultee objected to the new licence application.

Among Respect Weymouth's concerns are noise from the premises and people smoking and drinking in the alleyway alongside – something which Mr Munro said the licensee would tackle if it was becoming a problem.

Nigel Shearing from Respect told the panel there had only been cursory consultations with residents although Mr Munro said Mr Barker had spoken to immediate neighbours who, he claimed, saw the Tropical Turtle as being beneficial to the area, compared to previous businesses which had stayed open late and played loud music.

“We have talked to people local and we have listened to, and responded, to some of the points from Respect Weymouth,” said Mr Munro.

He said that the premises having a bar alongside a restaurant was not unusual, and that the bar would only be small.

“I understand the fears but it won’t become part of the drinking circuit in Weymouth,” said Mr Munro, “the alcohol sales in the bar is only a small part of the business and won’t be open when the restaurant is closed.”

“This should not be judged on the past. It’s a brand new application” said Mr Munro.

He said what was there previously was a take-away on ground floor level with The Rum Shack above which operated until 5am, having a total capacity of more than 200 people.

He said the new business would be closed by midnight at the latest.

Respect Weymouth representative Nigel Shearing said he appeared at the hearing on behalf of 36 individuals and businesses who feared that the bar might cause problems for residents and people walking along the adjoining alleyway.

“It feels to residents that there is a concern that this will become a stand-alone bar and reproduce some of the problems experienced in the past,” he said.

He asked that the promises made should be backed up by conditions being added to the licence.

A decision on the new application is expected to be announced within a week.