By Julian Whittle

Last updated 12:32, Saturday, 17 May 2008

THE Hourglass wine bar in Stanwix, Carlisle, wants an outdoor area for smokers.

Garden area: The Hourglass owner Gordon McGregor wants to use the back area to keep smokers off the front pavement

The bar in Scotland Road opened in October despite neighbours’ concerns about noise and traffic.

The original planning application included a smoking area at the rear.

But owner Gordon McGregor dropped the idea to appease the objectors. Now he wants to reinstate it.

A fresh planning application tabled with the city council says: “There is a need to source a location for smokers to keep them from the pavement to the front of the premises.

“To achieve this we propose to open a new doorway from the corridor/store of the bar into the rear garden.”

The plans are for a “low-maintenance garden area” with patio and picnic benches, rather than chairs, to avoid noise from scraping legs.

A separate planning application seeks to convert a bedroom above the bar into a kitchen to meet demand for a “varied light-food menu”.

The proposal for a smoking area may prove controversial. There were nine objections, mostly about the potential for noise, when the Hourglass successfully applied to extend its opening hours late last year.

Anne Kelly, of Eden Mount, told councillors: “The extension of hours will impact badly in terms of noise and disturbance. Most residents will be in bed by 11.30pm, and even more by 1.30am.

“What was once a parade of shops is now becoming a centre for night-time activities.”

JWhittle@cngroup.co.uk