MR Readman is quite right to highlight some of the problems Bournemouth faces with the issues surrounding the night time economy.

One only has to look at the headlines of the same day showing a drinker with his head down the toilet ‘having a good time’, this being an advertisement from a so-called responsible licensed premise in the town.

This highlights the problem we have in trying to encourage drinking venues in the town to behave responsibly.

It is for this very reason that the council along with the police and our MPs have been working hard behind the scenes talking to central government while they have been formulating the new Licensing Bill which will probably be enacted sometime next year.

It is pleasing to note that the government has been very receptive to our ideas and suggestions for the new Bill and most of what we have asked for appears to be heading for the statute books.

This will finally give towns such as ours and many others around the country the tools we need to get to grips with the binge drinking culture so sorely affecting our society.

For many years now it has been very difficult to control the number of drinking establishments and the hours they open because of licensing laws which have been heavily weighted in favour of the applicants.

They have been encouraged by the licensing laws introduced by the last government which allowed 24 hour opening.

This has led to many establishments now staying open until 6am causing the police massive extra costs in dealing with the resulting anti-social behaviour and crime.

I am sure that most right-minded residents in Bournemouth would welcome a clampdown by the council and it is our intention, once the new Licensing Act is invoked to get to grips with the problem.

CLLR DAVID SMITH, Cabinet Member for Community and Planning, Bournemouth Council