Karma nightclub is to stay open, despite being blamed for much of the violent crime in Chippenham.

Wiltshire Police called for a review of the licence agreement of the club in Station Hill, claiming unacceptable levels of crime and disorder are associated with the venue.

But members of Wiltshire Council’s Northern Area Licensing Sub-Committee passed on the proposal to close the club for three months, and instead imposed certain conditions on the current licence.

Karma co-owner Mike Rosser is overjoyed at the outcome.

He said: “I feel really good about this because I really thought they would give us at least a temporary closure.

“We all thought it would be a big fight and that we would end up having to follow it through court and things for months, but we are really pleased.“ As well as sitting through hours of police statements about the way he and his staff run the business, Mr Rosser had dozens of messages from concerned customers to contend with.

“People have been texting me all day,” he said.

“There are so many rumours going around that we are closing or losing our licence.

“Everyone loves coming to Karma and I know we can make changes, but I think we do a good job for where we are and what we do.”

Wiltshire Police compiled two large folders of documents and statements in a bid to convince the panel that major changes were needed at the club.

Officers gave evidence that the club was overcrowded and dangerous for revellers.

They claimed Karma is directly associated with 45 per cent of public disorder incidents and 32 per cent of the assaults in Chippenham town centre.

Inspector Kate Pain, of Chippenham Police, said: “As evidenced by my officers and on the club’s Facebook page, Karma has an ingrained culture of extreme drinking that will be difficult to alter.

“I also believe that if the current situation is allowed to continue further serious injuries will occur.”

The committee decided the club should stay open but set various conditions.

Security staff must be more easily identifiable, supervisors must stay on duty until at least 30 minutes after the club’s closure and the management team must provide a detailed plan of staff roles and responsibilities.