A CHIEF police officer in Chipping Sodbury has warned that late night drinking in the town will lead to loutish behaviour and more violence.
Sector inspector Keith Farrow believes longer drinking hours will demand more officers on the streets to deal with lager louts and combat anti-social behaviour.
His warning comes after landlord Peter Shelley and partner Thelma Youd announced their plans to keep the Portcullis Hotel open until 1am at weekends.
Mr Shelley wants to extend the opening hours to midnight between Monday and Wednesday and to 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to enable guests to enjoy a meal and a drink later.
He reassured the public that proper measures would be taken to ensure customers leaving the pub would not cause too much disruption.
He said: "We have specially trained door staff to assist us if people start causing trouble. Customers will not be allowed to simply turn up here once all the other pubs are shut and we will implement a policy where only those who have been drinking in the pub before a certain time can stay."
He does not believe the late licence will increase trouble in the town.
"The later times will mean there will be less people on the streets at the same time," said Mr Shelley.
However, Avon and Somerset Police are not happy with the application. They have opposed the 1am closure but say midnight would be satisfactory.
Insp Farrow went further and told the Gazette that the late licence would mean trouble for Chipping Sodbury.
He said: "At the moment, when people want to carry on drinking, they go into Bristol and that is where they cause trouble. Do people really want that type of behaviour here?"
He added: "We only have a certain number of officers here and if the licence is granted, the number of police on the street will have to increase - meaning it would take officers away from dealing with real crimes."
Avon Fire and Rescue Service has recommended that the number of customers in the pub at any one time should be limited to 350 people.
Station officer Simon Hill said a maximum of 250 people should be in the ground floor bars and 100 in the wine bar at the back of the pub.
Residents of Horse Street and Melbourne Drive have also raised concerns. In a letter to the council, they said they are worried about customers using an exit at the back of the Portcullis.
Council officers have recommended that a device be fitted in the wine bar limiting noise to a safe level.
The council's licensing panel will decide the application at a meeting in Thornbury on Tuesday.
Insp Farrow had this message for residents: "This is your community. The licensing trade should not dictate to the community how things should be. "Is it worth the misery of many residents for the sake of lining the pockets of a few traders?"
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