A director has responded to concerns extending his venue's licence would negatively impact neighbours.

Fort Luton in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, had applied for its terms be altered to allow for the sale of alcohol and to host live music.

Rob Shand had initially requested a licence for noon to 11pm on weekdays and 10am to 11pm at weekends, leading to objections from residents, including Rebecca Barton who raised concerns at the council licensing meeting.

She said did not want to live opposite a nightclub and local people would be affected by patrons leaving the venue drunk.

It was decided the fort can operate between 7pm to 10pm on Thursdays, 7pm to 10.30pm on Fridays, midday to 11pm on Saturdays, and midday to 6pm on Sundays - subject to obtaining planning permission for amended hours.

Mr Shand, who has been at the fort for seven years, says he wanted to open up the venue for functions.

He said: “If someone came along and said 'I want to do something in the afternoon, where we will have alcohol'? then I wanted to be able to serve alcohol.

"It’s my only form of income; I do everything myself, it is all self-funded.

"The licence is about trying to enhance the fort, not annoy people.”

The site, which sits in the grounds of the car park for Victory Academy, was built in 1876.

Sharon Jackson also holds regular charity comedy nights there.

The Much Laughter CIC raises money for a host of community initiatives and charities through regular comedy nights at Fort Luton and Fort Amherst.

The most recent night was held last Friday (March 15) and was hosted by Sam Wyatt, who Ms Jackson manages.

She said: “We are bringing down acts to Medway, rather than people having to travel up to London to see them, and for a fraction of the price of what they would sell.

“It’s just trying to bring Medway up, and while we are doing it, we are all helping each other, that’s the whole point of it.

"To me it’s crazy, no one was asking for a licence until 2am, so how was it ever going to be a nightclub?”