A LACK of nightclubs has made Witney safer, but is damaging the town’s economy, it has been claimed.

The town’s neighbourhood police officer said efforts to reduce antisocial behaviour among drunken revellers have worked.

But town councillor Ben Woodruff said Witney’s young people were heading elsewhere, hitting the town’s night-time economy.

Antisocial behaviour used to be a problem at the weekend, according to police and councillors, with youngsters spilling out of Izi nightclub onto the streets.

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But since the club closed two years ago, the police said officers have seen far fewer cases of drunken violence and rowdy behaviour.

Pc Ollie Holland, head of the Witney neighbourhood policing team, addressed Witney Town Council’s annual public meeting last Wednesday. He confirmed cases of people being drunk and disorderly or using threats of violence and abusive words and behaviour dropped by 17 per cent in 2014/15 compared to the previous year – from 123 to 108.

Crimes of violence with injury were down 15 per cent from 130 to 111, and crimes of violence without injury were down three per cent from 173 to 168.

Pc Holland said: “Witney is a very safe place to live. Antisocial behaviour does remain a challenge for us in the wider community and environment but we’ve made great progress.”

But town councillor Ben Woodruff said the lack of nightclubs was causing youngsters to spend their money in Oxford instead.

He said the listed Corn Exchange venue, to reopen in April, could be used as a club at weekends, adding: “It’s very important the crime figures remain low, but it would be good to get some nightlife back.”

Councillor Alan Beames said: “Izi is a sad loss, but when it was open we had a lot of antisocial behaviour in town.”

Other late-night venues include Fat Lil’s in Corn Street and Norton’s Bar in Langdale Gate. Both stay open until 3am on Saturdays.

Koi in Corn Street offers Japanese food and live music, and opens until 1am on Fridays and 2am on Saturdays.

Tilly Wates, 24, who works at Norton’s, said: “If you had a club in Witney it wouldn’t work because people would only go there during the week.”