THE future of one of Winchester's most popular pubs is on ice after council chiefs put off a decision on maintaining its late licence.

Bosses at the Moloko Bar, in The Square, are seeking permission to renew and transfer their public entertainment licence to the wife of one of the current licensees, as well as varying the conditions.

But police oppose the proposals because they say the bar is badly-run, with more than 90 crimes directly linked to it in the 15 months leading up to June according to a council report.

In a letter to the council, police chiefs have made allegations about public disorder, underage drinking and overcrowding, while local residents have also complained about antisocial behaviour from customers.

Also, the newly renamed University College Winchester has written to the authority about concerns over the bar.

The letter, from Mary Edwards, its security and safety officer, said: "Over the last academic year, we have had a few instances where students have needed to be monitored overnight as they were unconscious or in need of medical attention through excessive alcohol consumption.

"On these occasions we always enquire where they have been drinking and in the majority of cases the students had been drinking at Moloko's bar."

There has been a letter from the warden of Morley College blaming Moloko's for distress to their residents.

She says: "This is one of the few residential properties in this part of the city, comprising accommodation for eight clergy widows, most of whom are elderly and vulnerable.

"Alcohol related problems in this area especially on Friday and Saturday evenings are increasingly distressing for these ladies. Late at night and in the early hours of the morning our sleep is disturbed by excessive noise and sometimes violence.

"Both vomit and urine are found in the garden of the property."

Renewing the licence would continue to give the bar the right to stay open later than normal and play music.

The current licensees, Jonathan Turpin and David Heath, along with Gillian Heath to whom the licence transfer application relates, also want to increase its capacity from 250 to 330.

However at Winchester City's Council's Licensing and Regulation Committee, a decision was postponed after legal argument from both sides.

The lawyer acting on behalf of Moloko's told councillors that any decision should be deferred because there were legal cases facing his clients, which amounted to: "An onslaught of D-Day proportions.

"Mr Andrew Kirkconel outlined how as well as the matter before the committee, the current licensees were also facing court cases for alleged selling alcohol to underage drinkers, and that Mr Turpin was subject to an application by the police to take away his justice's licence.

The cases are due in the autumn, and he added that hearing the renewal application before the court proceedings are over would be prejudicial to his clients, as they deny the charges. He also asked the council to have a new report written after questioning the impartiality of the licensing officer who wrote it, suggesting it contained inaccuracies.

Barrister Peter Savill for Hampshire Constabulary dismissed the deferment request, arguing that the allegations against the licensing officer were unfounded,

It was also pointed out that if Moloko didn't like the council's ruling they could appeal. After an hour's deliberation, the committee decided, to postpone a decision for a day-long hearing. No date was set.