POLICE want to make it harder to open new licenced premises in a valleys town because they are struggling to cope with boozed-fuelled disorder.

Gwent Police Inspector Mike Cotterell claims the number of licenced premises and late night takeaways is "growing out of proportion to a place the size of Abertillery town centre".

But publicans and business people have slammed the move.

Bob Smith was granted an alcohol licence on appeal after Blaenau Gwent Council turned down his initial application for his new restaurant at the old Carmel Chapel.

He felt the first decision was "an unfair restriction of trade" and this latest move will kill the town.

"Blackwood and Brynmawr have their share of trouble, and you wouldn't dream of introducing such restrictions in Cardiff," he said.

"We just want a level playing field. They need to deal with the yobs not punish businesses."

In a letter to Blaenau Gwent Council Insp Cotterell says police capacity to deal with incidents "caused by the night-time economy" is "reaching breaking point".

He wants the council to consider passing a Special Saturation Policy for licence applications from off licences, pubs, clubs and takeaways on a number of roads in the town centre.

The policy would not prevent local businesses from applying for a licence to sell alcohol or to extend their licence, but would make them harder to obtain.

He says police have taken "pro-active measures" to tackle the problem of disorder in the town but says officers have to be drafted in from elsewhere to cope with the problem.

Granting more licences or extended licences in the area would "only exacerbate the present situation".

Problems include "general noise and nuisance" for nearby residents, "drunken fights", disturbance into the early hours vandalism and people urinating in the street.

The smoking ban with people going outside to smoke has added to the problem, claims Insp Cotterell.

Robert Lowman, 45, said he moved away from Tillery Street because of all the noise and nuisance.

June Ruff, 62, said: "We haven't got a town anymore, all we've got is pubs and takeaways."

Blaenau Gwent licencing committee will consider the request at a meeting on Tuesday, January 22.