IT is rare in life that you get the chance to effectively wipe clear the mistakes of the past and start again but the new licensing regulations provide just such an opportunity. In many of Britain's towns and city centres a yob culture seems to take over the streets like a nasty rash as soon as evening falls.

A recent Panorama programme highlighted a typical night in the life of such a centre, using Nottingham as its example. Foul-mouthed abuse filled the air, there were bottles, kicks and kebabs flying and the public highway became a public lavatory. And the men were even worse! The knee-jerk reaction of many is to blame the licensing trade and call for more bobbies on the beat - but the forthcoming legislation offers a far better solution.

Rather than local magistrates deciding who can have a liquor licence and for what hours, it will be down to a panel of local councillors who can consider objections from relevant groups, including residents' associations. All existing licence holders will have to re-apply but applications can only be rejected on one or more of the following grounds: public safety, harm to children, preventing nuisance and preventing crime and disorder.

Councils now have a golden opportunity to sit down and strategically plan how they want their town centres to develop over the next decade. All-day licensing does not have to mean all-day drinking and the pleasing thing is that members of the licensing trade recognise this distinction.

A large number of landlords and pub chain bosses took the trouble to attend a recent summit I called to discuss the forthcoming changes. Of course these are hard-nosed business people who have to pay attention to the bottom line - if they didn't they would be out of a job. But by working in partnership with the industry and police, council leaders have a chance to draw up a vision of what is best for their particular urban centres. An opportunity to combat binge drinking and the plethora of problems this brings.

Row upon row of hangar-style pubs where youths guzzle cut-price drinks may bring in a short-term fix in terms of business rates but it will do nothing to secure the long-term future of a community. The money gained will immediately be lost in extra policing, litter patrols, repairs and health costs. To sustain a 24/7 economy, centres need to offer a wide range of facilities. They can do this by granting the right licences for the right locations.

A town centre should encourage those who work there to stay a little longer to enjoy a meal or drink after finishing their daily toil - rather than bolting home before the barbarians land. There should be a range of entertainments on offer from art gallery to theatre, cinema to gym, to lure evening visitors.

Yes, there should be a club where young people can dance 'til dawn if they so wish, especially in areas with a large student base. If you don't provide such facilities then they will simply take their money - and probably newly-acquired degrees - elsewhere. But there should also be a wide range of restaurants, wine bars and entertainment for post-adolescents, with appropriate public transport.

Where European caf culture differs from Britain's street scene is not just the hours, but the fact that people over 40 are encouraged to participate. OK, not everywhere can support a Covent Garden but let's at least see some ambition, some imagination and individuality in our town centre planning.

Published: 25/06/2004