THE threat that Bolton town centre could sink into "gratuitous violence and drunkeness" has dashed a major town centre development.

Developers of a £5m complex have been left facing huge legal costs after their appeal court hearing for a liquor licence was dramatically thrown out yesterday.

A Crown Court Judge and four licensing justices decided that the proposed Branagans pub on Nelson Square, would cause "substantial risk to public order".

Their decision came despite the appeal being backed by Bolton divisional police head, Chief Supt John Bartlett. Police had previously objected to any more pub-type developments in the Bradshawgate area. Chief Supt Bartlett told Bolton Crown Court yesterday that police could cope with a major incident at night and said that the town had shaken off its previous bad reputation.

However, in giving his decision, Judge William George said that he had established that there was a need for a venue aimed at 25 to 35 year olds but added: "This appeal is dismissed. We feel that there is a real and substantial risk of a breakdown of order particularly at closing time with the number of persons, up to a thousand, coming out on to Nelson Square."

Branagans, which promised to spend £200,000 a year on live entertainment, would have been the largest pub of its kind in Bolton catering for around 1,000 people. If the appeal had been successful then it would have caused ground-breaking re-think into the way Bolton magistrates grant licences to town centre pubs and clubs.

National leisure giants, First Leisure were appealing against a Bolton Licensing Court decision last October refusing a liquor licence to the proposed late-night live music venue.

The pub would have been part of a major entertainment complex developed by Cathco Properties sprucing up the derelict area opposite the New Pack Horse.

The scheme had the backing of Bolton's planning department with the promise of £96,000 for redevelopment of the area by council. But yesterday, the court heard evidence from PC Gregory Pickles, a town centre policeman for 21 years, who voiced his fears that Bolton could be taken back 10 years when Bradshawgate had "gratuitous violence and drunkeness".

Counsel for the Licensing Justices, Mr Martin Walsh, claimed the pub would "alter the balance of licensed premises" from the north of Bolton.

He said the former Dance Factory, Maxims and Maxwell Plums along Bradshawgate had their licences revoked because of trouble on the streets.

PC Pickles also cast doubt on the efficiency of the close circuit television cameras which Branagans had promised to provide. He said: "In my experience using these cameras, we do not have the manpower or resources to react to problems on the street."

Earlier the court had been told that Chief Supt Bartlett had talked with Cathco Properties and withdrew his objections after the pub agreed to reduce its hours to 12.30am.

The court heard how "staggered" times for revellers leaving nightspots was the police's "preferred system".

Counsel for First Leisure, Mr John Saunders, called surveyor Mr Ian Jones to the stand - an expert in licensing applications who had frequently visited Bolton town centre.

Mr Jones said he had often witnessed pub goers chatting to police officers sitting in a Tactical Aid Group van on Bradshawgate on a Friday and Saturday night.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.