A Bath nightclub has asked for some of the strict rules imposed after drug concerns at the venue to be lifted.
New management at Club Zero Zero in George Street, formerly the Blue Rooms, have requested that licensing rules about the number of door staff they must use, the need for at least one female member of the team, limitations on capacity and a requirement for regular accredited staff training should be removed or altered.
The club's bosses are also asking licensing chiefs at Bath and North East Somerset Council to allow staff members to carry out toilet checks rather than registered door staff.
Tough licensing rules were put in place at the nightclub, owned by city businessman Kambiz Shayegan, last February when it was still known as the Blue Rooms.
In 2012 police launched an investigation into criminal activity at the venue, which senior officers said included drug dealing, antisocial behaviour, violence and theft. This resulted in two people being jailed for dealing or supplying cocaine.
Licensing conditions insist the club has five door staff, one being female, from the time of opening until closing; toilet checks should be carried out every 15 minutes by door staff; capacity should be limited to 300 with no more than 100 people in the basement area and staff should attend accredited training and should be trained every three months relating to illegal drug use and the sale of alcohol.
Police Inspector Steve Mildren is opposing the application from the club.
He says in a report that since last February there has been a reduction in the number of incidents at the club.
"It is the opinion of the police that this is due to the stringent conditions on the premises licence put on by this committee and (we) feel the likely effect of a watering-down of the conditions can lead to increases in crime and disorder."
Fire safety officer, Nigel Jagger, from Avon Fire and Rescue, added that because of public safety considerations, the club needed to limit capacity to 300.
The club wants the capacity to be determined by a risk assessment, and to cut the total number of door staff to two, without the stipulation that one should be a woman. It says it is prepared to have three door staff working between 11.30pm and closing time.
The application is to go before B&NES Council's licensing sub-committee next Thursday, January 16.
The Chronicle has requested a comment from Mr Shayegan.
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