AN APPLICATION by a Welling pub to stay open until midnight has been withdrawn.

There were nearly 60 objections, including from the police and the borough's community safety officer, to the application by the New Moon pub, in Bellegrove Road, Welling.

The pub, previously called the Moon and Sixpence, and before that the Station Hotel, has a history of problems and has attracted huge opposition.

The owner, the Laurel Pub Company, wanted to extend its Public Entertainment Licence (PEL) to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The main reason for objections were disorder on the streets and noise and disturbance.

The application from the New Moon is among a number of applications from pubs in the borough for PELs until the early hours of the morning.

July 16, 2002 12:00