ONLY a few months ago City of York Council boldly announced a "licensing zone" would be created in the Micklegate area where all applications for extended opening hours would normally be refused unless it could be proved that the extension would not lead to an increase in alcohol-related disorder ('Licensing crackdown on booze hotspot', April 2).

That, of course, was a few months ago and it now seems the council has abandoned that policy and decided to grant Toffs nightclub an extension to four o'clock in the morning.

Not content with that, Tanner Row is to be patrolled by four bouncers and Barker Lane is to be coned off with car drivers having to ask permission from the bouncers to drive through!

Is there any legal precedent for turning a public road over to a nightclub and allowing a private police force to control a street?

The whole idea is so incredible I could have sworn it was April Fool's Day.

Alan Lewis,

Tanner Row,

York.

Updated: 11:29 Thursday, August 18, 2005