CAMPAIGNERS have lost their long running battle to stop the Chicago Rock Cafe opening in the town centre.

Despite their protests a liquor licence was granted last week on appeal and the owners Luminar Leisure even received permission to keep the multi million pound venue open for extended hours.

In a second blow to protesters magistrates reinstated late night drinking at The Litten Tree. The pub's hours were curtailed six months ago after a massive escalation in drink related violent and disorderly behaviour in the town particularly at weekends

Objector Rhona Marshall said: "This will open the floodgates for other operators to apply for licences, worsening an already serious problem."

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ANGRY protesters who battled to stop another drinking spot opening its doors in the 'Jekyll and Hyde' town of Macclesfield have lost their fight against a £9.5m development opening in 'the troubled triangle'.

Residents plagued by the drunken capers of late night revellers were forced to go in for round two even though magistrates found in their favour at the original hearing in February.

At the time the bench refused liquor and late licences for the 8,000 sq ft Chicago Rock Cafe at the Silkworks.

But after a three-day appeal hearing Judge Merfyn Hughes and four licensing committee members quashed the decision and gave the go-ahead for the 700-capacity late night bar.

It will lie within what has been branded 'the troubled triangle' of Mill Street, Sunderland Street and Pickford Street.

Police have already admitted there is a crime and disorder problem in the town, which is directly related to weekend binge drinking.

But lawyers for Chicago Rock's parent company Luminar Leisure - which had a £360m turnover last year - convinced the judge the bar would not add to the chaos already plaguing the streets at night.

Barrister for Luminar Leisure, Gerald Gouriet said: "Luminar are the stars of getting it right.

"They are regarded as the Marks & Spencer or the Rolls Royce of the leisure industry.

Objector Rhona Marshall of Rugby Drive, Tytherington, told the court of the problems already experienced by town centre dwellers each weekend.

She also showed a video she and fellow objector Michael Halsey had made of a typical night out in Macclesfield, showing the aftermath of a night of drinking.

"The centre of Macclesfield is gone," she said. "There is sick all over the place and people urinating everywhere... broken glass.

"I felt sick to think I was going out into town to find worse things to take pictures of to show you.

"We don't want to find worse. This decision will only open the floodgates."

Another witness described how she had seen two men and a girl performing indecent acts on the wall outside her home, and one of them even left his trousers behind.

"This is a Jekyll and Hyde town," she said. "It's nice in the day but come Friday and Saturday night it's horrible."

Michael Halsey, of High Street, said: "The wants and needs of the young people of this town are being put above the needs of the rest of the community."

But Director of Luminar Leisure Steve Dennis insisted: "There is an innocence to the operation, a nostalgia to the whole feel of Chicago Rock, it's music and decor."

He added they purposefully played music from the fifties to 1986 to put off the younger people who preferred repetitive beat music.

"If a nightclub is Radio One, Chicago Rock Cafe is Radio Two," he said.

The cafe will offer around 40 jobs to local people.

After the hearing Mr Dennis said: "I am very, very pleased that Luminar Leisure will be able to offer the Chicago Rock Cafe experience to the people of Macclesfield.

"I genuinely believe that there are people disenfranchised by the current offer.

"I respect and admire the objectors and I'm sincere in saying I will work as hard as I can to ensure that Chicago Rock Cafe in no way adds to the problems in this town."

In a meeting with Penny Wilson Mr Dennis offered to help with policing in the town.

He has offered to provide walkie-talkies, train door staff, and help introduce a Pubwatch scheme as well as providing £15,000 over a three-year period to help with policing.

Supt Penny Wilson said: "Prohibition in the town centre is not what we're about.

"We want to get the right balance between reducing crime and disorder and being fair to all parties.

"We hope Chicago Rock Cafe will be extremely well-run, safe premises attended by people of all ages."

Judge Hughes praised the objectors' thorough presentation but decreed the cafe was acceptable and suitable for both a liquor licence and a licence until 1am.

Previously a cinema/bar/restaurant scheme was planned at the Silkworks but failed when the cinema pulled out.

And a plan to divide it into retail shops failed because of the town's already thriving high street.