A 96-year-old man has urged a council to reject a plan to offer live music 16 hours a day and serve alcohol 24 hours a day at a historic town centre inn.

The elderly Richmond resident, who has not been named, has written to Richmondshire District Council’s licensing committee saying he fears escalating disturbances from The Fleece Hotel, in the town.

Councillors are set to decide whether Best Friend Ltd, which has restored the imposing grade II listed Gothic building in Victoria Road, should also be permitted to play background music 24 hours a day and provide “late-night refreshments” from 11pm to 5am every day.

The Victorian premises, next to the Black Lion Hotel, was a nightclub until 2015.

The elderly resident said: “I have not forgotten the disruption in the area at closing time previously.

“Now we are going to have a situation where it is illegal to sound a motor horn outside the hotel in the early hours, but in order to sound as many horns as one likes inside.

“At 96 years of age I appreciate a good night’s sleep and trust you will ensure that I get it.”

A spokesman for the hotel, which claims to be “a place where a restful night’s sleep in a deeply comfortable bed is guaranteed”, said the live music would be in the background for diners, such as solo performances by harpists or pianists.

He said: “The operation of the premises will be as a high quality hotel, restaurant and cafe-bar, where guests will, in the main, purchase alcoholic drinks when also purchasing food.”