A PROPOSAL to limit more pubs and bars in Jericho will be put to councillors next month.

The case for extending the city centre "saturation zone" to Jericho is to be pressed by local city council Susanna Pressel.

Residents in East Oxford are being asked whether they think there should be a ban on new pubs, bars and clubs opening in the Cowley Road.

A saturation zone already limits the number of new licensed premises in a large part of the city centre.

But Ms Pressel, the city councillor for Osney and Jericho, will urge members of the central, south and west area committee to ask for Jericho to be added to the list.

She said: "I will propose that the scheme is extend to Jericho as well as Cowley Road, in view of the fact that it is a residential area.

"On the whole I think there are enough places. This would give us power in the future to say 'no'."

Walton Street has become a busy area for restaurants, pubs and cocktail bars. Ms Pressel said the heaviest number of complaints she received about noise and anti-social behaviour centred on Hythe Bridge Street.

While Jericho had seen none of the trouble associated with nearby George Street, she believed it would be unwise if the number of late-night drinking places was allowed to increase indefinitely.

But Mike Dickson, of the Radcliffe Arms, in Cranham Street, Jericho said the proposal was unnecessary. "There have been more pubs closing than opening in this area. Once there was a pub on almost every corner. This would be unwarranted."