PEOPLE living in the city centre are calling for a review of how bars, clubs and restaurants are granted licences.

They say the system needs to be simplified and want more chances to sit down with applicants to discuss plans.

The bid comes after the owners of a restaurant due to open on Liverpool Road compromised on an application for a 4am licence because neighbours were unhappy.

Aabads agreed to close at midnight after months of deliberation – time locals say could be saved in future cases.

They also want a more user- friendly system with licensing hearings outside work hours, so more people can attend – and better notice of applications.

City centre campaigner Anthony McCaul said: "I want to see the council completely review licensing policy in the city centre, and bars and restaurants acting as good neighbours – meeting with residents, giving people numbers for managers if there are problems and talking to residents and agreeing compromises as part of the licensing process.

Toolkit

"I also want to see licensing policy become more user friendly with the council producing a ‘toolkit’ so residents can easily understand the process."

University lecturer Joan Davies, 59, who has lived on Liverpool Road for four years, said: "I can very rarely attend licensing hearings because of work so it would be great to look at new ideas that would allow more dialogue between applicants and their neighbours.

"What everyone wants to preserve is a set-up where we can live, work and enjoy life together with give and take."

Felicity Harris-Knott, of Kuit Steinart Levy solicitors who represented Aabads, said: "We’d be in support of anything that encourages greater contact between residents and applicants and helps speed up the process for them.

"We often liaise with local residents and businesses before an application goes in and the law is designed to allow residents to have their say, but when objections are received it can turn into a long process."

City centre chief Coun Pat Karney said: "Cases can be a bureaucratic nightmare, involving a host of council departments, police, residents and businesses. If we can get people to regularly sit down with residents before going through licensing we could potentially save everyone a lot of time and money."