COUNCILLORS who promised no new bars in a south Liverpool neighbourhood blighted by alcohol fuelled behaviour yesterday granted a new drinks licence.

Italian restaurant La Scala, on Allerton Road, was given permission to re-open as a Thai eatery under new management.

The decision comes after the local authority approved a pioneering policy last month to stop any more licensed premises opening on two “saturated” streets.

The “cumulative impact” policy is the first of its kind in the UK and means that, while new licences may be applied for, there is an automatic presumption against them being granted.

Residents around Allerton Road, Allerton, and Lark Lane, Aigburth, have long complained that anti-social behaviour, litter and noise has massively increased in recent years.

The La Scala decision, required because the long-standing restaurant changed ownership and needed a new premises licence, was being closely scrutinised as a test case.

But a Liverpool council spokesman said the cumulative impact policy could not be considered as the restaurant had submitted its application before it came into effect.

The bar’s owners withdrew an application to serve alcohol until midnight, reducing its opening hours until 11pm.