Time called on protests as pubs are granted extra drinking hours

IT has been dubbed "bar alley" and is known as a popular late-night run for revellers in a North-East town.

As an anchor for Darlington's drinking circuit, not only does Skinnergate have a number of pubs and bars, but many others running off the street are within a short walking distance.

Now with the advent of extended drinking hours, under the Licensing Act 2003, things are about to get a little livelier.

At least six pubs on the run are applying for longer opening times to come into force from November 24 and most have already had their applications granted.

This will mean, for instance, that Flares will open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, as opposed to midnight at present, while Yates's will open to 2.30am every day.

Not everyone though is happy at the prospect.

Pensioner John Watson, who lives in the Arcadia Court retirement complex, off Skinnergate, has been responsible for collecting numerous petitions objecting to applications by the likes of Yates's, Flares and Bar Size.

His involvement has been such that licensing officers from Darlington Borough Council have alerted him to licence applications since he represents so many local residents' views.

Since Arcadia Court was built ten years ago, many shops in Skinnergate have been replaced by pubs or hot food takeaways.

Mr Watson said: "Skinnergate has been absolutely ruined. It has gone from a shopping centre to a hooligan's place.

"People who live in the area won't go out on to Skinnergate at night because they think it is too dangerous.

"These new licensing laws are stupidity and will only make things worse."

He added: "If you have a licence until 1am or 2am, it doesn't just stop there.

"They may not be serving after that, but people will still be drinking and hanging around.

"Then you'll have all the people coming out of the nightclubs.

"When you do get to sleep with all the noise, the next thing is at 6.30am you've got the street cleaners coming round clearing up all the stuff that has been thrown around and the wagons collecting the bins."

Chloe Wright, who has lived in Friends School Yard, just off Skinnergate, for 15 years, said: "It never used to be like this, but it is atrocious now.

"The noise is the worst thing, but then you get the problems with half-eaten food from the takeaways, which is always left outside.

"People come into the yard and also use it as a toilet. We are elderly people and have got enough with all these pubs."

Many shop owners are known to be unhappy about the extended drinking hours because of fears over vandalism and general debris, which they often have to clear up the morning after.

Jeff Marriott, owner of the Up and Running sports shop, in Skinnergate, said: "I expect to be picking up broken bottles on a morning when I open up."

Mr Marriott said many traders did not bother to object to the extended applications, since it was felt they would be granted anyway.

Bar Size, one of the six drinking establishments in Skinnergate, recently had its public entertainments licence granted by the borough council.

Under the new Government legislation, it has to apply again for a licence, but expects a one-hour daily extension until 1am will be granted.

It plans to fit acoustic glazing to cut down on any noise and is also coming up with a "dispersal policy" for when customers leave the premises to try and ensure large groups are not spilling out of the premises at the same time.

Its co-owner, Peter May, said he believed many pubs were applying for longer hours just to make sure they did not miss out against their rivals.

He said: "I believe people won't want to drink much past 1am in a small town like Darlington, maybe they will in the big cities perhaps.

"I don't think the extended hours will honestly make that much of a difference."

A spokesman for Wetherspoons, whose Tanners Hall pub is also among those applying for longer hours, said: "We are doing our best to give our customers greater flexibility in terms of drinking hours under the new system.

"We have a large number of policies and practices in place to tackle problems such as underage drinking and late-night disorder in our pubs.

"We would want to reassure people that they are very well run and we are always happy to listen to the views of the local community."

Four years ago, both Flares and what was then Humphries, now Barracuda, had applications for longer opening hours turned down after police objected.

Barry Knevitt, Chief Inspector of Darlington police, was quoted as saying that extended hours would lead to an increase in violence, affect the quality of life for residents and have a negative effect on police and health resources.

Now it appears that such applications can be granted much easier in line with the Government's aim for more continental-style drinking and the new legislation.

Councillor Isobel Hartley, chairwoman of Darlington council's general licensing committee, and whose Central ward takes in Skinnergate, said one worry was that, under the new licensing regime, the onus was on residents to object to applications, since councillors were barred from doing so.

Coun Hartley said: "I am concerned that too many applications are slipping through because residents and local traders have to find out for themselves what the variations are and when the closing date is for an application. It is a lot of extra responsibility for people to take on."

The council is promoting a responsible drinking code of practice among publicans and the use of shatterproof glass for glasses. It also includes avoiding irresponsible drinks promotions.

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington police, said they relied on the public to be the eyes and ears of the police and to tell the authorities if a licensed premises was causing problem.

She admitted that the onus was now on people to object to applications under the move towards 24-hour drinking, since it was assumed that under the legislation they would be made automatically.

She said: "We still give consideration to every application in terms of its anticipated effect.

"Based on our experience and evidence that we have, anything that would clearly cause a significant increase in disorder will be challenged."

Insp Collingwood added: "An awful lot of problems that we do get on the streets is alcohol- fuelled.

"It would be very nave to think that there won't be some people who won't think that the extended hours are a good opportunity to drink more and cause problems.

"However, until premises are open longer it is very difficult to look into a crystal ball and see what the effects will be."