A PUBLIC meeting is being held tomorrow for people to have a say on whether there should be a new policy on drinking in a North-East city.

It follows complaints by Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, that there are too many pubs and bars with late licences in the city centre.

She said: "It is clear that the current licensing regime has not been working for the city centre for some time, with more and more people contacting me to let me know of the effect the huge increase in very late licenses in Durham is having on their lives."

Durham County Council is running a consultation on whether there should be a specific licensing policy for the city centre, which closes on Friday, November 8.

Called a cumulative impact assessment, it could potentially strengthen licensing rules for new pubs, bars and takeaways in the city centre.

There has been growing concern among some quarters that the number of licensed premises in Durham is leading to increased anti-social behaviour and is having a negative impact on the city centre – causing it to be described as the "wild west".

The meeting takes place in the lantern room at Durham Town Hall between 5.30pm and 7pm.

Comments can be made on the council's consultation by visiting www.durham.gov.uk.