People power has prevented two controversial licensing applications at different ends of Oxford being approved.

There is to be no 'superclub' at the former Regal cinema in Cowley Road, while Bar Risa in Hythe Bridge Street will be turned into a Walkabout bar - but with no increase in the current capacity.

City council licensing chiefs yesterday decided fears over increased crime and public disorder meant they could not grant an application from Solarview, the Oxford-based company, to turn the former Gala Bingo hall into the biggest live music venue in the city.

The firm - fronted by Charlie McCreedy and Adam Marsh - wanted the Cowley Road site to have a 1,700 capacity venue for live music, conferences and wedding receptions.

But the police said they did not have the resources to cope.

Protesters, led by St Mary and St John vicar, the Rev Adam Romanis, painted a doomsday scenario of rowdy drunks and antisocial behaviour.

Mr Romanis said: "That kind of stuff is going on in our area all the time - this should be an area of tranquillity.

"How do you make use of a venue that size in an area likes ours? To be honest that's their (Solarview's) problem, but what we are saying is that they are barking up the wrong tree."

After a shake-up of the licensing laws last year, responsibility for granting premises licences switched from city magistrates to city councillors, making it easier for those living close to contentious applications to have their say. There are no 24-hour licensed premises in Oxford and a so-called special saturation policy exists in the city centre, effectively banning the opening of any new bars or clubs.

In a separate hearing, Regent Inns was given permission to change Bar Risa into a Walkabout, the popular Australian-themed sports bar - but it only amounts to a re-branding exercise.

The company wanted to increase the capacity from 250 to 400, but after appeals from those who live close to the venue and the police, the three-man licensing committee refused.

Barrister Stephen Morely, representing Oxford police, was "very concerned" about the application.

He said: "The issue here was relatively simple - an increase in capacity.

"If you boil it down, that is the real concern and leads, potentially, to more trouble, more queues, more conflict and more people waiting for taxis."

City councillor Paul Sargent, who campaigned against the application, added: "Many people in central Oxford breathed a sigh of relief when we brought in the saturation policy.

"This decision proves the views of the residents were justified - it's fantastic news."

Solarview and Regent Inns have 21 days in which to appeal against yesterday's decisions.

Last night it was unclear whether either company would do so.