Views split over boom in Shrewsbury's night trade

Shrewsbury mayor Miles Kenny said he is delighted that assessors of the Purple Flag award, which recognises standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy, were very positive about the town after a visit last year.

Councillor Kenny said that the night-time economy was "booming thoroughly".

But another councillor said he was bemused with the situation.

Councillor Kenny said: "This is something Team Shrewsbury, which is an officer-led and councillor-inclusive team, worked very hard on.

"It is a flag that is like the Blue Flag accreditation you have for beaches.

"It is really important accreditation and we had one of the assessors come and visit and talk about the night-time economy.

"They were so positive about it, it was so good that they found us above average and they had a great evening.

"We need the economy as it is very important to the town. If we don't have it people will visit but won't stay.

"Having this lets people know they are in a safe place – it is a shining beacon for people."

Councillor Kenny said councillors would find out some time in February whether the accreditation would be awarded but he was delighted to receive the positive feedback.

But some councillors have not welcomed the news.

Councillor Andrew Bannerman said: "I am not against a night-time economy but I am still regularly approached by residents who say this that and the other has happened the other night and they are fed up of it.

"All I am asking is that we do not fall over ourselves over the night-time economy and we should be very realistic about the aftermath which is a regular occurrence.

"Somewhere along the line we need to get a bit of a balance.

"If residents become too fed up with noise and broken things afterwards and – I am sorry to say – street fouling, they will say it is not worth living in the town centre if they have to put up with that."

The news comes just a week after Subway in Claremont Street was given permission to stay open until 3am on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Meanwhile managers of the Source Bar in Barker Street were given permission to open Shropshire's only lap dancing club – which will be known as The Gentleman's Club – for three days a week.

Councillor Bannerman said: "Now that several of the licence applications for extending the weekend into Wednesday and Thursday have been approved, the nuisance can't get better that way.

"What I am asking for is that we have some kind of understanding of the costs as well as the profits."

But Councillor Kenny added: "If a licensee is given permission to open to 3am it doesn't mean they will, it means they have the opportunity.

"Maybe premises will be but that is only because we are competing against other towns and if we are to be at the forefront of those we need to accept this."