A LANDLORD has claimed breweries and pub companies "couldn't care less" about setting up a town centre scheme to stamp out drunks and drug abusers after they failed to turn up at a meeting to discuss the issue.

Barry Allen, of the Arden Inn, Abbey Street, Accrington, was one of several licensees who took part in a seminar about pub issues in the town this week.

Hyndburn's licensing sergeant Brian Hopwood had hoped to set up a pub watch scheme to help premises form a network to weed out troublemakers.

But the Hyndburn Association of Licensed Traders (HALT) initiative has been shelved after representatives of the majority of the bigger town centre pubs and clubs didn't turn up.

Mr Allen said: "Without question I'm in favour of HALT and so were a lot of other people there. There is trouble in the town centre, generally at weekends.

"But it would be a pointless exercise to have only half the pubs involved. You need at least 80 per cent to be effective.

"A lot of the troublemakers drink in the bigger places in the town centre. But the problem is, many of them are managed by breweries and big pub companies and possibly they couldn't care less.

"They are not directly involved and I think there is a little bit of apathy on their part."

Sgt Hopwood added: "The issue of HALT was raised but had to be shelved because people from only eight town centre pubs were present.

"So many of the nightclubs and pubs were absent that we couldn't have a proper discussion.

"I would hope some of those people will come to any future meeting."

Simon Price, retail director of Nelson-based Devonshire Pub Co Ltd, which owns The Bee's Knees pub in Accrington, said the company was in favour of pub watch schemes.

He said: "The last thing we want to do is look like we're against stamping out problems in the town centre.

"It's not in our interest, because if people are frightened of going out, we won't make money in our pubs.

"As a company we are very keen to actively work with the police. This is the first I've heard about a seminar and if we weren't there I'll be finding out why."

A spokesman for Thwaites, who own managed pubs The Regency and The Bridge Inn, both Church Street, added: "We want to encourage our tenants and pub managers in Accrington to take part in pub watch schemes as they do in other towns in the area."

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