New licensing policy in Bath hailed a success

A strategy to keep a lid on the development of new pubs and clubs in Bath city centre is being hailed as a success.

Politicians will meet later tbhis week to review a policy which came into force last year which puts the onus on pub firms to prove that new bars - or plans to extend opening hours of existing businesses - will not aggravate crime and disorder problems.

The zone covered by Bath and North East Somerset Council's cumulative impact policy contains the city centre - stretching as far as Cleveland Bridge to the north east and the Royal Crescent to the west.

City centre politicians and the city's police licensing bureau have urged the council to keep going with the policy. The authority's licensing committee is also being asked to decide whether the boundaries of the policy zone should be extended.

The policy was launched after major concern from city centre residents over the growth of new pubs and clubs, particularly in the area around George Street.

Last year, there were five applications for new premises licences and 10 applications to vary the hours of existing licences in the policy area zone.

All of these were approved but police liquor licensing officer Martin Purchase says in a submission to the council that the policy has forced a change in the mindset of firms and licensees applying for extra hours, or to open new venues.

Click here for the rest of this item from the Bath Chronicle