A BAR in a Kent town has been at the centre of up to 30 reported brawls and assaults in just 12 months, it has emerged.

The figure was revealed as the borough council at Gravesham debated extending Bar 24’s licence beyond 12am.

The bar, in Stone Street at Gravesend, originally applied to Gravesham council to open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 3am. It later amended this time to 2am.

But the application was refused by the council’s licensing panel because of what it described as reports from North Kent Police of violent incidents at the premises.

In a statement Gravesham council said between April 2004 and March 2005 there had been 30 alleged incidents at the bar, nearly all of which were fights, disturbances and assaults. Fourteen crimes were reported between March 2004 and February 2005.

Kent Police also reported to the panel that on three occasions officers had requested a copy of CCTV footage from the bar, which had not been provided.

Cllr Lee Croxton said the premises had crossed the line and the council would use all its powers to support police in reducing crime and disorder in the borough.

He said: “In the light of the national controversy over extended drinking times, this action shows that councils have a real role to play in assessing applications on a case by case basis, and making sure that concerns of local residents and the police are taken into account.

A spokesman for Bar 24 declined to comment on the situation.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S GRAVESEND MESSENGER