The week-long poll saw the town split 50-50 over whether Newbury should have more bars and pubs.

Next month, Gordons bar opens in the former Beatties toyshop - which was turned down by planners when Wetherspoons wanted it - serving wine, cocktails and food.

Here we sum up both arguments:

We need Phoenix Nights

According to a survey of Newbury town centre by national property experts in 2002, the town needed five more bars just to bring Newbury in line with the national average, where around 8% of floorspace is used for food and drink outlets.

Bearing in mind Newbury is packed with young twenty and thirtysomethings with cash in their pocket, and unless the night-time entertainment keeps pace, they will migrate like the weekend shoppers to Reading.

Of the pubs and bars in Newbury, only a handful currently cater for this market, with many more for the more mature drinker, so venues like Phoenix Brewery are vital for our future.

As Newbury's a runner-up in the national "safe place to drink" awards, how is one small venue open until 2am full of thirtysomethings going to cause more trouble? If we do need extra police, then so be it.

Time gentlemen please

Up and down the country, the rash of pubs and takeaways has turned thriving shopping areas into filthy no-go areas at night.

In recent months, the planners have given permission for shops to be turned into food and drink outlets at Sustenance, Gordons and Starbucks. Other shops like Bowness Sports have made way for ever more flats within staggering distance of the nightclubs. We should be protecting our shops.

These places also bring people in from miles around who care little about annoying the nearby residential areas.

Newbury may be a safe place to drink now, in Nottingham, too much competition has seen a price war, where younger drinkers can go out and get legless for £10 or less.

The police are right to take a stand against the proliferation of more late night bars. Newbury does not have to follow this descent into drunken lawlessness.