A council licensing committee has decided that an application to extend hours at an Althorne vineyard should be granted - though now the venue has to wait for the outcome of a planning application to get the final go-ahead.

Crouch Ridge Vineyard, in Fambridge Road, applied to extend its wine barn license to allow sales and consumption of the produce on the premises up to 11pm each day. The owners hope to hold wine-tasting and wine and food pairing evenings.

However, there are two parts to the application process - one for the premises licence and another for planning permission.

The licensing application looked at issues with regard to the four licensing objectives:

-the prevention of crime and disorder

-public safety

-the prevention of public nuisance

-the protection of children from harm.

The planning application will look at issues including highways (where Maldon District Council (MDC) will consult with Essex County Council), potential noise pollution and environmental concerns such as potential for littering, etc.

The meeting of MDC's licensing sub-committee heard on Thursday, 11 March from the vineyard's owners (the Lonergan family) and from a local resident who objects to the application.

Four written objections to the extension were received in total, based on concerns over noise and disruption to village life, littering, traffic problems, the potential for increased anti-social behaviour and crime and the disturbance to wildlife and a nearby cemetery.

Granting the change to the premises licence, the sub-committee concluded in a statement following the meeting: "The committee may only determine the application based on the four licensing objectives and it was unable to take matters of planning permission being required, traffic and roadside litter into consideration.

"The sub-committee had considered the objections of all four residents who raised objections."

No date has yet been set for consideration of the vineyard's planning application.