Councils keen on PM's 24-hour powers

Local government chiefs have welcomed the Prime Minister's plans to give more powers to councils to restrict opening hours at pubs.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference this week Gordon Brown said local authorities would be given "power to ban 24-hour drinking throughout a community in the interests of local people".

Pubs in problem areas could also have their hours slashed even if they are not the root of any trouble.

The moves have been widely slammed by the trade as attempts to win favour with Middle England before the next general election but they have been welcomed by local authority body LACORS.

Chairman Paul Bettison said: "The Prime Minister's intention to introduce powers to allow councillors to limit 24-hour drinking across their borough and to call for a review of a premises licence is a victory for the LGA (Local Government Association)

"Councillors and licensing officers know which premises on their patch are the 'bad apples', and need the powers to take action against them."

And Chris White, chairman of the LGA's culture, tourism and sport board said: "Government should bring in these new powers as swiftly as possible.

"Councils and the LGA will work with them to design legislation that can help stem the tide of binge-drinking and anti-social behaviour without penalising well run pubs and restaurants."