Best Bar None scheme "matter of urgency" in Oldham

Trade leaders will introduce a Best Bar None scheme in Oldham as a "matter of urgency" as part of a bid stop the council reviewing the licences of all town centre venues.

Paul Smith of Noctis and Lee Le Clerq of the British Beer & Pub Association met with the "vast majority" of city centre licensees this morning to discuss the problems.

The meeting is a result of controversial plans by Oldham Council to review the licence of all 22 town centre venues and introduce measures such as Post Office-style queuing systems at bars. The review process is expected to start later this month.

But Smith said: "We had a positive meeting and we are going to push ahead with a Best Bar None scheme - Noctis will make sure that happens.

"There was enthusiasm for the scheme among the licensees because they can see there are problems that need to be addressed."

The support of local MP and Home Office minister Phil Woolas will also be sought to help the scheme get off the ground and help find an "alternative solution" to the licence reviews.

Smith warned that if the situation resulted in a legal fight then "no-one would win because relationships would breakdown" between licensees and the council.

Le Clerq said the meeting was "productive" but warned there must a "two-way street". "The responsible authorities also have a role to play to ensure the success of any future partnership," he said.

However a spokeswoman for Oldham Council said yesterday the process of reviewing each individual licence will begin next month. "Each venue in turn will be looked at, that will be the next stage," she said.