A FORMER GP surgery in Southampton could be transformed into a cafe and restaurant.

The team hoping to open The Tramstop will meet licensing chiefs this week in a bid for a licence.

They are set to open the new venue in the former Portswood Road GP Surgery, and have applied for a licence to sell alcohol.

In their application, Tramstop Bar Ltd says The Trampstop "will be an informal, neighbourhood, food led cafe/restaurant, which will be open all day, everyday for customers to relax with a coffee, a drink and something to eat from an extensive lunch time and a la carte menu".

They have applied to be open from 9am to midnight, seven days a week, and sell alcohol from 11am to midnight, seven days a week.

They say the venue will have a CCTV system, a Challenge 25 policy and incident and refusals books, while staff will be trained to prevent the sale of alcohol to underage youngsters.

However a number of residents have objected, with Portswood councillor Matthew Claisse saying the venue would be open later than in the permission granted in 2014 to turn the surgery into a restaurant/cafe.

He also says there are now too many premises licensed to sell alcohol in the Portswood District Centre, while others have voiced fears the area will become a "drinking hub" and attract antisocial behaviour and other issues.

The city council's licensing and gambling sub-committee will meet tomorrow (Tues, July 27) to decide whether to approve the application.