“If you do it from 10pm, you’re wasting public money – you may as well flush it down the toilet.”

Cllr Nick Small, who represents the ward that includes the gay quarter, said the committee may opt to alter the hours.

He said last night: “I’m supportive of it but we shouldn’t get too worried about the times of operation. What we’ve got to have is something that pedestrianises for as long a period as possible, which doesn’t impact on the existing businesses.

“If we put 24-hour pedestrianisation, clearly that would negatively impact on businesses. So would 6pm to 6am.

“There’s probably a line to be drawn, one of the things we’ll discuss is where. I’m confident that we will get an agreement that will please everybody.”

A report drawn up for the committee says the council received seven formal objections, representing the views of interested groups. Two objections were against the measures, while the other five wanted the hours of operation increased.

A spokesman for the council said: “The report summarises the different objections, whatever their nature, and they have all been dealt with in a similar manner.”

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