THE owner of a Blackburn bar has applied to build a larger nightclub just weeks after he was stripped of his public entertainment licence following complaints about noise.

Scott Moon, who owns Cubes in Duke Street, Blackburn, has submitted a planning application to Blackburn with Darwen Council to build a larger club on the same site.

Blackburn College have vowed to fight against the new club, just yards from their town centre campus, but council officers believe the application is appropriate and have given the project their backing.

Mr Moon, from Oswaldtwistle, wants to replace Cubes, now closed, with a new, two-storey unit. It will sit next to his existing cafe bar, Chocolat, also in Duke Street.

The planning and highways committee of Blackburn with Darwen Council will discuss the application at a meeting on Thursday, just a month after the licensing committee stripped Mr Moon of right to trade.

The licence was revoked after residents in nearby streets claimed they could not sleep because of noise from the club. They also said he breached his licence by staying open too late.

But environmental health officers at the council have given the new project their backing, on the grounds that the purpose-built unit can be designed to keep noise in.

Blackburn Civic Society is also opposed to the development, saying the location is unsuitable. A letter from Blackburn College will appeal for the application to be rejected.

It reads: "The college wishes to formally object to this extension. There has been an increase in vandalism to college property in this victinity since the inital change of use with an increase in general litter.

"We do not feel that this use is in keeping with the nature of the buildings surrounding the college, therefore this formal objection is submitted."

Council officers say in a report that the use of the land for a nightclub is appropiate and say neighbours will not be unduely affected. The plans show the club would have a capacity of around 800.

If approval is granted, Mr Moon would have to re-apply for his public entertainment licence. He has previously stated that he needs to be open until 2am at the earliest or he will go out of business.