RESIDENTS have reacted angrily to the council's decision to allow an underground bar to open in a quiet parade of shops, as the owner says he is looking forward to proving the critics wrong.

Councillors agreed to grant permission for the Vault Bar in the basement of 15 The Broadway, Woodford Green, at a meeting on Friday – despite the application attracting 30 letters of objection and a petition of 100 names.

The council gave permission for alcohol to be served from 11am to 11pm and set out a series of conditions designed to ensured that noise and anti-social behaviour is kept at bay.

Barry Snowden, 64, who was at the meeting, said: “I'm disgusted at the way the whole thing was handled by the council. It was just a farce, an absolute joke.

“I wasn't surprised that they granted permission, especially after the people from the planning authority in Bristol came down and said that it wouldn't cause any problems.

“I sincerely hope that we're all wrong and it won't create problems.

“But if there are problems, I'm not convinced that Redbridge Council are the right people to deal with it, given the experiences of people in other parts of the borough.”

Co-owner Peter Southgate said he is eager to prove his establishment will add something to the area rather than detract from it.

Mr Southgate said: “We're obviously very pleased to have it granted, and quite relieved too. Throughout I've heard people say that it's going to be another Funky Mojoes, which couldn't be further from the truth.

“We've already got a bar manager in place, we've got a chef, so the next step is advertising, and starting recruitment because we're going to need to hire about 12 staff. We're looking to open in April, but we're not going to rush it, we want to make sure we get it right.

“I've actually spoken to a number of local residents and businesspeople who are quite keen for the bar to open.

“We're now looking forward to getting it open and proving people wrong, and showing them we know what we're doing.”