PLANS for The Regal cinema in Evesham got the unanimous backing of town councillors on Monday - with reservations.

They voted to recommend to Wychavon District Council that all entertainment should finish by midnight, and the proposed mini bowling alley should be soundproofed.

The conditions were in response to neighbours' fears that the bowling alley and noisy customers arriving and leaving the premises would create a disturbance.

Councillor David Alesbury said: "I am for approval with restrictions on how The Regal should be used. We do not want to see people turning out at 2pm in the morning."

Coun Roma Kirk said: "Residents are seriously worried, especially those who live in a listed mediaeval house who share a party wall."

Coun John Smith said: "If we want to regenerate Port Street we need to do something with the cinema. There has been a tremendous amount of work to bring this project to this stage. Comments about noise and disturbance will be picked up by the officers at Wychavon and I welcome it."

Coun Mark Robinson said: "We should do nothing to put this developer off. This man has bought the cinema as a investment and we should welcome it with open arms."

The £1m refurbishment of The Regal includes two screens, a mini bowling alley, and a rooftop restaurant, however a nightclub facility appeared on the original plans, but were quickly withdrawn by the agents following advice by Wychavon's planning officers.

Neighbour Ed Cohen said: "We have concerns about noise and am glad that town councillors have recognised that. We are not against the improvements to the Regal but we want controls on noise and opening times."

Agent for The Regal Cinema, Olivia Spall of Nichol Thomas Ltd said: "We are pleased that town councillors have backed our plans in principal." She declined to comment about the withdrawal of the nightclub proposal.