NEW premises may be denied permission to open beyond 1am as part of a new licensing policy being considered by Colchester Council.

It will not impact on current licenses, but would affect requests for extensions and new applications within the Colchester Town Zone.

The zone includes the area within Balkerne Hill, Cowdray Avenue, Southway and Queen Street.

A consultation will be held before the licensing policy for 2016 to 2021 is confirmed later this year.

Mike Lilley, a member of the council’s licensing committee, said: “We have created a new town zone. It will protect us in the future.

“We want to have a policy restricting hours to 1am for newbusinesses.

“This has been important for a long time. When it gets to 3am you get all the trouble and police spend a lot of time dealing with things.

“We are trying to resolve problems late at night.”

He also wants to see shops opening later to “offer a mix of everything in the evenings which would be a really positive outcome”.

He claims the lack of a policy means it is hard to refuse applications but a new policywould make it much easier.

The draft policy claims licensing objectives within the zone are failing because of “the levels of crime and disorder and public nuisance experienced within it and the complaints received from residents”.

The policy claims the number of premises has not reached “saturation”

point, but is a concern and if the SOS bus was removed the council would look at taking further measures because of the “cumulative impact”.

The bus operates in the High Street on Friday and Saturday nights by providing medical support to people who need it.

Supporting the SOS bus is set to become part of the policy as is supporting Pubwatch, including a new scheme for West Mersea.