COUNCILLOR Maureen Bateson knows Blackburn town centre can be a dangerous place. But she also believes that, at night, it is a much safer place to be than in the past.

Many new initiatives have been adopted by the council in the past few years, often in consultation with the police.

Coun Bateson, who is executive member for citizen rights and consumer affairs, has licensing issues within her remit.

She said: "There are many areas where we have looked to improve the town centre.

"For us to be successful at night, people needed to feel safe about coming here. We felt the best way of doing that was to go out and ask the people coming into the town centre what would make them feel safer.

"Things like a higher police presence and more CCTV cameras were high on the list."

The additional CCTV cameras were already in the process of being installed after the council secured home office funding to extend the existing network.

The police now have a comprehensive network of spy cameras covering the entire town centre.

And through the safer streets initiative, extra police -- many in high-visibility jackets -- now patrol Blackburn at night on a regular basis.

But there are other areas which the council has worked on to make sure the town centre is safe at night.

Coun Bateson added: "We pioneered the doorman registration scheme, which meant all premises with public entertainment licences could only have door staff who had undergone a training scheme and who were registered with us as a result.

"These people know first aid, know how to control situations and behave correctly. It removed a massive rogue element for us."

Venues with public entertainment licences include those which have dancefloors, have live bands or late licences.

Regular inspections of these venues are carried out by licensing officers.

Coun Bateson added: "We are looking at various other ways of improving the town, with things like late night buses being laid on the help people get home."

But the biggest difference to the town centre could come within a month -- with the banning of drinking on the streets.

Coun Bateson added: "When people get public entertainment licences, there are strict conditions they have to adhere to.

"If they don't, they will lose their licence."

Coun Bateson added: "We are looking at various other ways of improving the town, with things like late night buses being laid on the help people get home.

"This would prevent them from having to walk home and also get rid of the rogue taxi drivers who ply for trade without a licence."

In consultation with publicans, other measures are being looked at, including the possible introduction of reinforced glasses which shatter into small pieces and not shards.

But the biggest difference to the town centre could come within a month -- with the banning of drinking on the streets.

Coun Bateson said: "It should be a major step forward in making people safer. Drinking will be banned on streets inside the new orbital route.

"The only exceptions will be in designated areas outside cafes and pubs which will be determined by the council.

"We have to remember that we have to make the town centre feel safe for everyone, and not just young drinkers.

"We get a lot of people coming in to our public halls and we have listened to them as well."