Many would love to support pubs but, as prices go up, will steer towards staying in and the super­market four-packs, than pints of lager marching towards £7 price tags and above

CAMDEN’S ruling Labour councillors must have known that they would be enraging residents’ associations in certain areas as plans to soften licensing rules were being devised.

It is an enduring pinch point in our borough: the majestic options of famous nightlife clashing with residents fearing sleepless nights, with each licensing application drawing déja vu for the familiarity of the pleas and objections.

The community campaigners who check each licence diligently must feel like the council has ignored much of what they have warned about since the national rules and opening hours were significantly relaxed in 2005 by the then Labour government.

In theory, from then on, venues could ask for a full 24-hour licence to serve alcohol, but few actually wanted to and those who did often saw their proposals were halted by committees which refused to grant them.

Operators may not be rushing into claim round-the-clock permissions under Camden’s relaxed rules agreed this week, but they are likely to find it easier to stay open later.

It’s being done to help the “night time economy” and who couldn’t sympathise with some of the venue owners who were forced to shut up shop during the coronavirus horror and have struggled to come back from these losses?

These are pubs, clubs, music back rooms and special stages which have provided good times and sparkling memories for so many. We very often celebrate the best ones in our paper and Camden Town in particular has a rich musical heritage which deserves protection.

But will Camden’s changes – which have irked residents so much – really make a difference for them? There is encouragement for us all to go back to loved venues, get going to gigs and buying drinks. A use them or lose them warning lingers.

This enthusiastic cajoling may be well-intentioned but doesn’t cater for the reality that however late a venue stays open, people do not have the same disposable income as they might have had before Covid and the deepening cost-of-living experience.

Many would love to support these pubs but, as prices go up, will steer towards staying in and the super­market four-packs, than pints of lager marching towards £7 price tags and above.

It’s a vicious circle: the venues have fewer customers, the price goes up – and the same appeals go out to support the businesses again.

A more effective way to revive this important part of Camden’s economy would be a government which really tackles the hardship people are facing now – struggling with astronomical energy bills, the rising cost of basic meals and transport fare increases.

The money once spent in these venues for recreation on a Friday night is now being sucked by profit-making companies selling us essentials.