COUNCILLORS have called time on 24 hour drinking in Salisbury-but pubs and bars will be allowed to serve alcohol until midnight in the week and 2am at weekends.

Following months of arguments, the council agreed to extend pub opening hours at an extraordinary meeting last Wednesday.

But proposals to allow round-the-clock drinking were turned down after concerns were raised by police and hospital bosses.

Councillors narrowly voted in favour of granting pubs licences to serve drinks until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The decision has been welcomed by Salisbury Police Chief Superintendent Jerry Wickham who supported setting a terminal hour for pubs to close.

"There is an indisputable link between alcohol consumption and violent crime, disorder and damage," he told councillors.

"The overall effect would necessitate us deploying more resources over a longer period of time, to police what can only be described as a minority of the public.

"The absence of a terminal hour would prolong the inconvenience to residents, as any noise would, or could, continue over a far longer period rather than being concentrated at, or about, the commencement of the terminal hour."

In a letter, chief executive of Salisbury district hospital, Frank Harsent, expressed concerns about the impact that unrestricted drinking could have on the accident and emergency department.

"A relaxation of the licensing environment gives me grave cause for concern that the demands on the A&E service will rise and I have to expand the staffing to cope safely with the increased numbers.

"Resources put into this service will mean less going into other services."

However, acting-chairman of the Lincensed Victuallers Association, Andre Recknell has accused the council of "over-reacting" and setting "draconian" closing times.

He said councillors are failing to "act in the spirit" of the government's plans which are to bring British licensing hours in line with the rest of Europe and encourage a thriving night-time economy.

Some councillors fear that any extension of pub opening times will have a detrimental affect on the centres of Salisbury and Amesbury.

Cllr Simon Howarth said: "If the pubs are open later, the disturbance will go on for longer. We might find that older people choose not to live in the city centre."

The council's environment and transport portfolio holder Cllr Dennis Brown believes the decision has struck the right balance.

"This is a national act that allows for 24 hour opening but locally we have decided this is not the best option for Salisbury and south Wiltshire.

"In the end we have come up with a policy that we believe meets the needs of local people and the needs of local services," he said.

From February 7, responsibility for licensing will transfer from the magistrates' court to the council.

Pubs and bars that produce evidence to show they can properly operate extended hours are likely to be allowed from November. to open until the later times.