The authority is worried families are being put off the city

Council leaders are taking action after complaints the city is dominated by alcohol, bars and clubs and the bad behaviour which goes with them.

One woman wrote a letter describing how she and her young son saw a woman urinating in the street after going to watch a pantomine.

Councillors are looking at ways to ensure the city is not just about pubs.

There are concerns that Nottingham is getting a seedy reputation with huge numbers of stag and hen parties flocking in.

Club 18-30

John Taylor, city councillor, said: "I describe it as a Club 18-30 holiday but 52 weeks of the year.

"We're dealing with a success problem. Nottingham is an amazingly attractive venue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night for young people's leisure.

"What we're trying to say is that the city needs to have a more diverse offering.

"There are ways we can offer different circuits, so there is a young person's part of town but there are other parts of town which will have a safe, secure and slower pace for families and elderly people."

If there are establishments who can't control their clientele then we have powers to shut them down Coun John Taylor

In the past officials say they have been duped by bars and clubs who said they would offer a more relaxed and sophisticated venues only to offer beer for �1 a pint as soon as they get a licence.

They want to introduce a "saturation zone" to control the number of bars and nightclubs.

Under new licensing laws introduced by the Licensing Act 2003, the council will be able to grant and revoke liquor licences in February instead of magistrates as under the current system.

They also want to see takeaways cleaning up after their customers.

"We'll have the power to offer liquor licences and also withdraw them in cooperation with the police if there are bawdy establishments serving drunks, serving underage people or allowing drugs to be consumed on the premises.

"It is not a threat, it is a promise - if there are establishments who can't control their clientele then we have powers to shut them down." Mr Taylor said.