REGENERATION could be affected if a blanket restriction on new venues was slapped on towns like Blackburn, it was warned today.

Instead, councils want to use licensing restrictions and new initiatives to make sure more pubs can prosper without wrecking town centres.

Coun Edwards Harrison, a Conservative councillor at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "I think just saying no to certain pubs is the wrong approach.

"What the council should be doing is going out and trying to find new businesses to come into the town centre.

"We need more cinemas, theatres and places which appeal to you if you are over 25.

"Take Blackburn for example, it is like an over-25 free zone. We need venues which attract the over 25s, people in their 30s, 40s and 50s and so on."

He added: "And the important thing is that it isn't always the pubs that cause the problems. Our town centres are popular. We need to keep it that way but ensure it is safe as well.

"That means making sure the punishments are severe for people who step out of line, including those people from outside the borough."

It is a sentiment shared by his Conservative colleague Graham Pound.

He said: "We need diversity in the town centre so you get a wider mix of people coming in."

And Lib Dem councillor Charles Mills said: "Enforcement is the key to improving the town centre, not the number of pubs.

"Some of our streets are very intimidating at night, very intimidating indeed.

"We have new pubs opening all the time and we need to monitor how things go on."

Blackburn with Darwen Council, like all local councils, has produced a crime and disorder strategy this year. It includes how they will tackle town centre problems like violent disorder, often triggered by booze.

Denise Johnson, head of licensing at the council, said: "There are a number of initiatives we are looking at to make the town centre safer."

One is arranging more high-profile policing nights, more spot checks on pubs -- and requiring landlords to ditch insensible drink promotions.

Street drinking bans have also been imposed across the area.

Coun Maureen Bateson, from Blackburn with Darwen Council, is the councillor responsible for citizens' rights and consumer affairs.

She said: "We want to create an environment which is safe for people at night and we can do that by making sure venues are adhering to all the rules.

"Just saying no to more pubs is not an option really. We have a growing night-time economy, the town centre is very popular and we want to make sure people enjoy coming out."

The police give advice on all new applications and Coun Bateson added: "We can put conditions on licences such as pubs getting CCTVs and so on."

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration, has welcomed the new Jumpin Jaks' venue, which opened last night, and said: "We are trying to make the town centre a great night out and with the good work of the licensing team, we are doing that."