A showdown is set over a plan for a social club in Caversham to host events until 1am.

Caversham Park Village Social Club puts on a range of regular and special events  at The Milestone Centre in Northbrook Road.

The club currently has a licence for activities until 12.30am on Fridays.

On other days, activities typically end at 11pm Monday to Thursday and Saturdays, and 10.30pm on Sundays. 

The club has applied to provide late-night refreshments, put on live and recorded music and indoor sporting events and films until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and midnight through the rest of the week. 

It has also applied to sell alcohol until 11.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. 

These activities have been requested in a licensing application to Reading Borough Council, sparking comments supporting and opposing the change.

Rebecca Hartley wrote: "I live nearby and we often get rowdy drinkers leaving the venue late evening which disturbs residents, particularly as the bedrooms to the neighbouring houses back onto the green where the Milestone sits.

"We also experience glass and bottles being left on the Milestone Way at present which will increase with longer opening hours.

"This centre has had a number of events recently whereby locals have been disturbed by those attending events at the centre. 

"Late evening and arguments between those attendees have spread to the car park making locals feel unsafe when walking by and noise coming from those arguing.

"The centre sits directly in amongst a residential area with young and elderly living close by. This extension is wholly inappropriate."

John and Karen Lohan wrote: "As residents of Caversham Park Village we believe that allowing the Social Club to serve alcohol and have live music and events so late into the evening would be a public nuisance to neighbouring properties and Caversham Park as a whole.

"The Social Club is in a predominantly residential area and therefore loud noises beyond 10pm would be a nuisance and affect families and elderly residents in the surrounding area."

However, Denise Cichocki, supporting the application, wrote: "It’s a great social club that serves the whole community. It holds family events, bands,
summer, easter, halloween and Cmas events for kids and the whole family.

"As well as hosting sporting events on the big screen, it hosts darts and pool teams.

"I have recently joined as a member having lived in the village for 15 years. I’ve used it over the years for kids' events and now my kids are older I’ve been to watch bands play and private events.

"It’s always a good atmosphere, I’ve never seen any trouble in there and it needs the extra revenue to survive."

Agreeing, Wendy Dodds wrote: "This is a valuable community resource that manages the events they do run on a responsible basis.

"They put on events that are inclusive to families and have in my opinion
always been aware of the local community and their responsibilities towards the community.

"As someone who lives on the village I personally think it would be detrimental if the licence were not to be granted."

The bid for extended activities will be decided at a meeting of the licensing applications sub-committee on Thursday, December 5.