A COUNCILLOR has questioned the number of late night licenses for bars in Bingley following an assault in the town.

A man suffered a head injury when he was attacked in Chapel Lane at about 1.30am on Good Friday.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

Two men, both aged 20, have been arrested and released on bail pending further police investigations.

Councillor John Pennington (Con, Bingley) said the times bars in the town were allowed to stay open needs to be reviewed.

He said: “I regret to hear about the assault and hope the man recovers fully.

“I sometimes question why we have to have late night licenses in a town like Bingley. We have bars open until 4am and 5am.

“Bingley is full to capacity for bars now, I think we have enough.

“This is not the first incident of violence in Chapel Lane and it needs to be monitored.

“If I had been on the Council’s licensing panel myself I would not have granted such late licenses.”

But Rory Procter, a spokesman for Bijou Bingley, said contrary to the initial details released by police the assault did not take place outside the club which is also in Chapel Lane.

Bijou has provided CCTV footage to help the police with the investigation and Mr Procter said the club was campaigning for late-opening venues to pay into a pot to allow extra police patrols to be mounted until late-opening bars shut .

He said: “We are sorry to hear about this incident.

“This assault did not take place outside our venue as previously reported and that the individuals involved in the assault had not been drinking in Bijou.

“We understand that the individuals had been drinking in another venue and while on their way to Bijou they had become involved in the incident.

“Naturally where alcohol is concerned there will always be incidents and no venue in the trade can control the actions of others. However, what they can do is be a responsible licensee/venue.

“We believe that we are at the forefront of our trade when it comes to trading responsibly and that all late licence venues should operate to the same codes of practise in order to minimise alcohol-induced incidents.

“Bijou is now campaigning that any venue which wants to open past 1am should have to pay into a police pot which would cover the wages/costs of providing on street policing until the last venue closes.

“We have inquired about paying out of our own pocket to have police on the street that can respond to incidents immediately.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the two men arrested over the incident were held on suspicion of wounding with intent.

“Inquiries are ongoing,” he said.