ONE of Bexley's biggest pubs is attempting to extend its hours until 2am and Bexley Council is bracing itself for a storm of protest.

The Rat and Parrot pub, in Bexleyheath Broadway, which has a capacity of around 500 has applied to Bexley Council for a Public Entertainment Licence (PEL).

It wants to stay open for music and dancing until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and on Bank Holiday Sundays.

Bexley Council is braced for an avalanche of protests about the plan. Bexleyheath Broadway is one of only two community safety action zones declared in the borough because of the problem of large numbers of licensed premises and revellers in the Broadway.

Objectors have until August 1 to object in writing to the management secretary at the civic offices in Bexleyheath Broadway.

At the moment, only two premises in the centre of Bexleyheath have PELs later than midnight.

One is Cineworld, which does not serve alcohol, and the other is the Marriott Hotel, which needs one for functions.

Bexley's community safety partnership has launched a new campaign, Keep Safe, aimed at working with licensed premises in the Broadway to cut down on drunkenness, under-age drinking and other illegal activities in pubs and off-licences.

Bexleyheath police's new superintendent John Powell was out on the streets of the town centre two weeks ago in the first high profile Keep Safe operation.

Afterwards, he said he was "extremely disappointed at the amount of drunkenness".

Hundreds of people pour out of the Broadway pubs, especially at weekends, often resulting in fighting and criminal damage.

And with no late night buses or trains and only two cab companies in the Broadway, the police have problems in dispersing people and keeping control.

If the Rat and Parrot is successful in getting a PEL until the early hours of the morning, it could also apply to the licensing magistrates to extend its drinking hours.

July 8, 2002 19:00