PLANS to convert a former Amesbury bank into a cocktail bar and community space have taken a step forward, despite concerns that it could cause late night anti-social behaviour.

Husband and wife Nathan and Hannah Muirhead, who run Keystone Entertainment, were given the green light by Wiltshire councillors to serve alcohol at the former HSBC bank in High Street almost two years after its closure in February 2016.

At a meeting of Wiltshire Council’s southern area licensing committee today, the couple were granted a licence to serve alcohol after they transform the premises.

Mr Muirhead said that the cocktail bar would "reinvigorate" the town centre and would be able to offer a community space for groups, films, and other events.

As part of the approval councillors enforced conditions that the couple must install CCTV inside and outside of the bar, signs requesting that bar-goers exit quietly and respect those who live nearby, and that no alcohol should be served at under-18 events.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Muirhead said: “I think it is really great, I am really pleased. I thought they were going to set some condition on the house but the conditions regarding noise and CCTV are reasonable.”

Despite not yet having planning permission Mr Muirhead said that it the proposal was approved by Wiltshire Council planners it could be open as early as May 1.

The plans for the cocktail bar, which will open until 2am on Friday and Saturday, were rejected by Amesbury Town Council, with mayor Cllr Andrew Williams speaking against the proposal at the meeting.

Cllr Williams said: "We are very concerned that size of the building and the noise it would attract, it would create a lot of disturbance to residents."