The Viva nightclub, which has been at the centre of the investigation into the murder of Reece Newcombe, is to re-open despite objections from residents.

The move follows talks with the police, who supported the re-opening of the club based on pledges to introduce new security measures.

At the same time, it emerged that the owner, David Charalambous, has sacked the door security company and brought in a new operator.

The club will remain closed for one month while a new management regime and security system, including body worn cameras for staff, and closing time crowd dispersal regime is implemented.

The drinks licence for the club was suspended following a request from the police, which came after the murder of new father Reece Newcombe, aged 32, in the early hours of Saturday, November 20.

Thousands of people attended a memorial walk through central Richmond to pay respects to Reece, who was well-known in the borough, and support his family.

Flowers left after the walk in Reece's honour.

Richmond Council's Licensing Sub-committee initially suspended the club's licence at an emergency meeting on December 2 on the basis of statements from the police that it was 'associated with serious crime and disorder'.

However, the Council has now reversed this decision following assurances from the club's owner and a recommendation from the police.

Councillors made the decision despite objections from local residents, who included a number of famous names, and The Richmond Society, which has become increasingly concerned about the number of drinking establishments and the associated violence and disorder.

Critics included the actress Julie Peasgood, musician Bruce Welch OBE, Professor Ian Bruce CBE and Professor Tina Bruce CBE, and the actor Sean Chapman, whose many credits include the film Hellraiser, who spoke at the Council meeting held to decide on the club's licence.

Resident and actor, Sean Chapman

In a written submission, Mr Chapman said: "During the club's opening hours, and usually from around 10.30pm onwards, the immediately surrounding areas become filled with people arriving, noisily queuing, loitering and frequently leaving the premises to take narcotics in the surrounding streets, often before returning inside."

At the meeting, Mr Chapman said it was 'absurd that there was a nightclub' on this site.

He explained that people would often be on the streets from 2.30am at weekends and that sometimes 'all hell would break loose'.

The actor said he was often woken up by people screaming and shouting and the club was now 'a magnet for antisocial behaviour'.

Bruce Welch, who has lived in the area for 32 years, said he had 'witnessed numerous problems with anti-social behaviour by the customers of the nightclub'.

Pictured is Bruce Welch.

He added: "When trying to return home in the evening, any time after 11pm, people are queuing on the pavement and road to get in, and the atmosphere can be quite threatening, not to mention the mess the following morning."

He described the murder of Reece as 'horrific' and added that it was a 'total waste of a life and a family's future'.

Professor Ian CBE and Professor Tina CBE said the club was the focus of regular 'disorderly' behaviour and 'nuisance'.

Other residents described the club as a 'social menace' and complained of witnessing 'some truly shocking events over the years as the nightclub closes'.

Despite these complaints, both the police and Council officials said they had no records to show a history of unusual crime, disorder or noise associated with Viva.

The Metropolitan Police said that following talks with the club's owner they were prepared to recommend that it be allowed to re-open.

The police representative, Mark O'Brien O'Reilly, said this was based on a number of conditions, including the termination of the current door staff contract, the introduction of ID scanning to check the age and identity of customers and the introduction of body cams for door staff.

Other conditions included the adoption of 'Ask Angela' training, which is designed to support vulnerable females, and the deployment of a welfare officer within the premises after 11pm.

A member of staff will also be stationed outside the club at closing time to help ensure people leave without causing a nuisance.

The club's legal representative, Jonathan Smith, insisted the owner had a 'good previous record' with no issues recorded over the 36 years he has operated Viva.

He stressed the police were satisfied with the new conditions and policies adopted by the club. And he said the owner would provide a mobile phone number and email address where residents could report issues.

The Council Licensing Sub-committee approved the re-opening of the club, stating that it 'gave weight to the fact that the Police were satisfied that the conditions they had agreed with the Licence Holder and the conditions offered at the hearing were appropriate and proportionate'.