The former Printing House in Simmonds Road, Wincheap. Picture: Barry Duffield.

Wincheap residents have won their battle to stop a new nightclub opening on their doorstep.

They packed a meeting of Canterbury City Council’s development control committee on Tuesday night to object to the relocation of Studio 41 from St George’s Place to the former Printing House in Simmonds Road.

Planning officers admitted there would be some disturbance to residents but recommended approval after considering a management plan by the club. It claimed it would deal with any anti-social issues outside the proposed venue.

But residents said Wincheap had been portrayed as a largely commercial area when they were in fact many more homes than shops. They feared sleepless nights and their quality of life being ruined by late night anti-social behaviour.

The committee narrowly voted against the application, but afterwards club entertainments manager Stephen Sullivan said there was no other suitable site in Canterbury and the business would consider appealing against the decision.

Read more reaction in this week's Kentish Gazette, out Thursday.