The new row over licensing hours in central Bradford has thrown into sharp relief a problem which taxes all authorities wanting to encourage a livelier city centre.

There is a need to persuade more people to want to live in our towns and cities, to keep them alive beyond normal working or shopping hours and help to create an atmosphere of well-being and security for visitors and other local residents. Councils want people to feel safe and comfortable in their homes, and to encourage town dwelling as an enjoyable experience.

However, the desirability can start to crumble when residents find their needs conflicting with those of the commercial interests with which they share their environment, particularly if those interests are in the leisure sector.

The Council rightly wants to encourage more people to use the city centre for leisure and entertainment and to advance its dream of turning Bradford into a 24-hour city. But when that clashes with the needs of the residents for peace and quiet, it faces a real dilemma.

Does it drive residents out by extending the hours of the clubs - which, inevitably, will mean extending the duration of disturbance from loud music and noise in the street? Or does it back the residents and consequently make the clubs less attractive by restricting their hours and risk having their customers go elsewhere?

Until it solves the dilemma of these conflicting needs, it will have only limited success in persuading people of the merits of living over the shop.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.