PLANS for a new bar in Taunton town centre have provoked strong opposition from people connected with three neighbouring properties.

Julian Abraham, a director and owner of Taunton-based The Lager Company, is hoping to secure a licence permitting him to serve alcohol and provide live and recorded music in the premises at 48 East Street.

The building is currently vacant, although it has previously housed a number of bars.

But Karen White, of Taunton Heritage Trust, which runs nearby Grays Almshouses, believes the application lodged with Somerset West and Taunton Council is inappropriate.

She has written to the council saying: "In the past, Taunton Heritage Trust has experienced a lot of issues with this neighbouring building when it traded as both Happy Harry's and The Retro bar in terms of anti-social and drunken behaviour and loud and thumping music into the early hours."

She added that there had been a number of instances of "vomit and urine/excrement" being "deposited on (residents') doorsteps".

Opposition to the licence application, which will be discussed by the council's licensing committee on Thursday (September 29), was also expressed by representatives of the Eternal Beauty business and Bradleys estate agent and offices above the premises.

They are opposed to the "excessive" opening hours, music during business hours and fear the late night opening is "likely to lead to anti-social behaviour".

Mr Abraham, 54, who says he has 25-years' experience of running licensed premises, including "a very busy town centre pub and hotel", originally planned to serve alcohol between 8am and 11.30pm from Sunday to Wednesday and until 12.30am on Friday and 2.30am on Saturday and Sunday.

He has since said he would be prepared to stop serving alcohol an hour earlier at weekends, while alcohol would only be served with food between 8am and 11am every day.

If he wins permission, live music would be permitted on Sunday to Thursday between midday and 11.30pm; and noon until 1am on Friday and Saturday.

And recorded music could be played from 8am until 11.30pm Sunday to Wednesday; 8am to 12.30am on Thursday; and 8am to 2.30am on Friday and Saturday.