PUB rowdies will soon be driven out of town with the launch of a new scheme in Ilkley.

Pub Watch is to be introduced by Ilkley police within the next few weeks, and Insp Alison Bennett said she hopes all pubs and bars will take part.

The project aims to provide a safer environment for visitors and residents who want enjoy trouble-free nights out in town and will be run by landlords with the back-up of the police.

Insp Bennett said: "One of the significant aspects of Pub Watch is the early warning system.

"If one of the pubs has somebody on their premises causing trouble they can do a ring-round to all the other pubs and bars involved.

"Also, if the landlord decides to ban somebody they can then pass on the name to other licensees.

"This person can then be banned throughout Ilkley and be on the list of shame."

She added if the initiative was successful it could be extended and take in other areas, such as Addingham.

"You do get youths who are intent on causing trouble and the only way to keep them out of town is to ban them from everywhere," she said.

Insp Bennett said the licensees she had spoken to expressed an interest in the project and she hoped the first meeting would be set up by the end of the month.

Landlady Pat Hems, of the Midland Hotel, Station Road, welcomed the new project.

"It's a great idea and would eagerly support a scheme of this kind," she said.

"There were three of us - The Midland, what was The Honest Lawyer and The Station - who tried to do a similar thing a while ago, but it fizzled out and we didn't have much effect on the whole of the town," she added.

"Sometimes you can sense with some people if they are going to cause trouble, and with Pub Watch we could call the other pubs and warn them about a rowdy gang."

Terry Stanley, landlord at Johnsons Cafe Bar in Brook Street, agreed the programme would benefit the town and its visitors.

"It would be a great thing for Ilkley.

"The landlords of all the pubs and bars have to get together and talked about it," he said.

"Some of the nearby towns already have schemes like this and people who are banned there are coming into Ilkley and causing trouble here.

"Pub Watch would definitely be a good thing for us."

Insp Bennett said she would like to see the scheme extended to incorporate the wine bars and restaurants.

"They have a different clientele but it would be good if all licensees could take part.

"If just one doesn't join in this causes a hole in the system and could cause more problems."

Pam Brown, proprieter of Browns wine bar and restaurant, The Grove, said: "We rarely have any trouble at this end of town but we would certainly like to get involved with any scheme where landlords look out for one another."

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