Clubbers posting half-eaten kebabs through letter boxes and fornicating in the streets have been given as reasons for a crackdown on licensing rules.

Surrey Comet:

Kingston town centre currently has two of the largest nightclubs in south west London in Pryzm and Hippodrome and a number of smaller venues.

Councillor Phil Doyle, chairman of Kingston Council’s licensing committee, said changes would help target antisocial behaviour that has left some older residents “scared to go into the town at night”.

He claims he realised changes had to be made after witnessing a couple having sex against a wall in the town centre on a late-night walk back from the cinema.

Coun Doyle said: “I laughed at first, but my wife got very angry with me.

“I don’t think the antisocial behaviour, most of which is caused by clubbers who have been drinking, is being challenged enough.

“Some residents are scared to walk through the town centre at night.

“Residents near the university have found themselves woken up by people making noise and urinating in gardens.

“The licensing policy at the moment doesn’t really signal what the council’s ambitions for the town centre are.

I think we need to be encouraging wine bars to come to the town centre rather than late-night, alcohol-led venues.

"This will make hard to open a new club, in the town centre at least.”

A 78-year-old Portsmouth Road resident, who did not want to be named, said she was woken up by drunk, young people walking home almost every weekend.

She said: “One person even posted half a kebab through my door once.”

But Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Tolley, who runs the club night New Slang at Hippodrome, said the proposed policy was “misguided”.

He said: “I don’t feel unsafe walking around Kingston at night. You see young people having the time of their lives.

"Young people are always going to want to dance. You are not going to stop that by closing venues.

"This feels like an attack on young people’s culture.”

A spokeswoman for the Deltic Group, which owns Hippodrome and Pryzm, said: “We have worked tirelessly with the council and police to ensure that we take all appropriate steps to minimise antisocial behaviour.

“We are concerned that the important role the club and bar sector plays in the local economy is being overlooked.

“Clubs and bars employ hundreds of people in Kingston and are a major attraction for students and the majority of residents.

“Every thriving town needs a thriving late night economy and there is no doubt that more restrictions on opening hours will have a detrimental impact on the local economy.”

Surrey Comet:

McClusky's nightclub re-branded as cocktail bar the Viper Rooms back in August

Kingston’s oldest nightclub McClusky’s closed down at the end of July when its owners Harewood rebranded the venue as cocktail bar the Viper Rooms.

Owner Paul Kinsey said Kingston Council’s policy to encourage upscale housing and retail had forced the change.

He said: “The Viper Rooms development is targeting executives and young professionals who are looking for the glamour and style associated with the Riverside development.”

The council is consulting on changes to its licensing policy until October 23.

To take part in the consultation visit consult.kingston.gov.uk.