THE COUNCIL has given the green light for an underground bar to open near a quiet residential area, despite the objections of dozens of local residents.

Councillors gave the go-ahead to the The Vault bar, in Woodford Green Broadway, after a six-and-a-half hour meeting today (January 22).

The original application requested the right to serve alcohol from 11am to 11pm, seven days a week - but the council is yet to confirm if the licence was granted with these opening hours or whether they have been changed.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, commuter organiser Geoff Seef, who submitted 100-name petition to the council ahead of the meeting, said: “This has all the makings of another Funky Mojoes.

“The council will have the same legal difficulties and financial exposure in trying to reign in the business when nuisance and noise do get out of control.

"Conditions have been imposed on the licence but then again, think back to when conditions were imposed on Funky Mojoes, which were then completely ignored.”

The Guardian has contacted the bar's co-owner Peter Southgate for comment.

The council is expected to publish full details of the decision within the next few days.

Keep checking the Guardian Series website for more details and reaction to the council's decision.