Worried Penally residents were assured there will be no return to the "dark old days of Chequers" at last Thursday's meeting of the county council's licensing sub-committee.

Nicola Jayne Berry, who currently lives on the Isle of Wight, has applied to reopen the club as a family venue between 10am-11pm daily and to play both live and recorded music.

She told the sub-committee that she planned to operate a family friendly tea room and cafe at the former nightclub.

Mrs Berry said she had run a similar operation on the Isle of Wight and that she was currently in the process of moving to Penally to oversee the project.

Carol Cavil, representing Penally Community Council, said residents had no objections to the opening of a tea room/restaurant at the venue but were worried that there would be future applications for a later licence.

"Last time this premises had a licence this made the life of the people of Penally hell," she said. "The police at that time said there was no chance of a licence for this premises again.

"We plead that this would not be extended and that we would be notified of temporary event notices at the earliest opportunity."

Mrs Cavil also voiced concerns about the condition of the building, the increase in traffic and the lack of parking and pavements.

Mrs Berry reassured the subcommittee that she had had no dealings with Chequersin its previous incarnation. She also said that she was moving to Penally so manage the restaurant and that the car park would be extended.

The sub-committee approved the license after a brief period of consideration.