TOWN councillors in Bewdley are calling for a midnight cut off point for pubs to combat concerns about late night drinking and loud music.

Bewdley Town Council is set to take a more active role in the granting of new and amended premises licence applications in the town.

Despite the council not being automatically notified about new licence applications, or amendments to existing licences, it will proactively check for applications on a regular basis and liaise with Worcestershire Regulatory Services and the police.

And council chiefs believe midnight is “late enough” for pubs in the town to remain open until.

They said residents complained to them about loud music and street drinking well into the early hours of the morning.

Members have made representation at licensing hearings and already ensured some applications have been scaled back to midnight.

In order to formally respond to applications, the council have given the job of considering licence applications to the planning and licensing committee which meets on the first Wednesday of each month.

Chair of the Committee and former Bewdley Mayor, Councillor Calne Edginton-White said: “The council recognise how important the night time economy is to Bewdley, but at the same time there are a lot of residential properties in the town centre.

“We must strike a balance and we believe that midnight is late enough in Bewdley”.

Nick Farress, Town Clerk, added “Whilst the Town Council is entitled to comment on applications, it is the district licensing sub-committee that has the final say.

“However, the council are clear that we must represent the views of our residents in these matters.

“A current application to operate in Bewdley until 3.00am has already been scaled back to 1.00am, but the Town Council will be seeking to apply a midnight cut off as a general policy position.”

Current licence applications can be found online at www.worcsregservices.gov.uk