The leader of Kingston Council has defended its u-turn over closing Oceana but admitted residents will feel disappointed.

The council faced criticism after it emerged a behind-the-scenes deal had been cut to allow the club to stay open.

Council leader Liz Green said improvements by the club made it highly likely a magistrate at the club's appeal hearing would allow it to stay open.

The Licensing Act meant only the current state of the club could be taken into account at the appeal hearing, not problems at the time of the revocation of the licence, she said.

If the council had lost, a magistrate would have imposed the conditions, rather than Kingston Council.

She said: “Between last year and now they have been working to reduce their crimes.

“Police statistics back up that crime has reduced dramatically."

Coun Green said that the costs to the council if they lost the hearing would have included the £200,000 of Oceana’s legal costs.

Oceana had hired top detectives – “above borough commander level” to try and sneak knives into the club to show how security had improved, Coun Green said.

The gagging of residents and councillors through confidentiality agreements had been necessary, according to the council’s legal officers, to ensure Oceana did not cry foul if the appeal had gone ahead, she said.

Residents and a licensing councillor criticised the gagging order yesterday.

Coun Green said: "I wanted to hold a meeting and we pushed our barrister and legal department to say we must hold a meeting in public.

"The legality of negotiations without prejeudice meant we were not allowed to.

"It also would have damaged our case [at court] if we held it in public.

"This has been going for a month or so and it's been immensely frustrating to me I can't talk about it."

In a warning to the club, she said: "We have had enough of the way they operated and unless they can make sure they keep to all of the conditions they will be called back in."

Right to let Oceana stay open?

Coun Andrew Day, one of three councillors who temporarily suspended the license before it was finally revoked in November 2012, said: “I can understand why they have done it but I think there’s so much behind the scenes on costs and everything. What was the point of turning it down [in the first place]?”

Paris Hunter, 20, Kingston College student from Esher:  “I don’t think it should [stay open]. It’s a bit dangerous really.”

Zoey Tribbiani, drama student at Kingston University: “What happened in Oceana was not because of the organisation.

“Oceana has way more security than other clubs.

Rebecca Roopnarine, 23, from Stoneleigh: “I think as long as there is suitable security and preventative measures in place then it would be fine.

"I’ve been in Oceana since the stabbing happened. It was quieter, but still enjoyable.”

Benedict Morrissey, 21, porter, lives in Surbiton: “You do not want security standing around the bar, but then again you do not want it to feel too lax.

"If they changed the layout of the club and made the rooms smaller, it would be easier for security to watch people."

Kingston resident Helen Beer, 41: “There is noise, drunks, litter and some play knock down ginger on the way home.

"I would like to see it [Oceana] closed and have something useful there, not a club that you can only use at night time."

What do you think? Email letters@surreycomet.co.uk