No decision on ban for new Bristol city centre nightclubs

Police say central Bristol is at "saturation point" when it comes to its night-time economy

A decision on whether to scrap a ban which stops new pubs, bars and takeaways from opening in a city centre has been delayed.

Bristol City Council's licensing committee was split four to four in a vote on the issue on Thursday.

Police opposed the idea, saying central Bristol's night-time economy was at "saturation point" and stretched their resources.

One councillor said scrapping the ban would "put the public at risk".

Green group leader Emma Edwards told council officers: "What you're doing is risking women and girls who are out in the night-time economy.

"If the [ban] is removed and things get worse, you're putting the public at risk."

A licensing officer said, although police wanted to retain the ban, there were cases where they had agreed conditions with applicants for licensed premises which suggested they did not fully endorse the restrictions.

After more than an hour's debate, the stalemate could not be broken and the report will come back to a future committee meeting, which must be before 7 March, when the three-year policy expires.

The zone reaches from Bristol's harbourside to Stokes Croft and from Clifton Triangle to the edge of Broadmead.