Strict licensing requirements for new venues like bars are being relaxed in two Carmarthenshire towns because the authorities can no longer justify them.

People and businesses applying for a premises licence in Carmarthen’s Lammas Street, Nott Square, King Street and Queen Street and Llanelli’s Station Road have faced restrictions in recent years because of their cumulative impact assessment area status.

This term describes the impact several licensed premises can have in a concentrated area including on crime and disorder.

Speaking at a Carmarthenshire Council committee meeting, senior officer Heidi Neil explained that having the status put “a stronger burden” on applicants to justify a new licensed premises.

Now, following a consultation, the council has removed the cumulative impact status of the five Carmarthen and Llanelli streets and square.

A committee report said crime statistic analysis by Dyfed-Powys Police found “minimal activity” in the cumulative impact assessment areas, except for one or two specific premises. “This left police unable to justify statistically supporting the cumulative impact areas remaining,” it said.

The council’s pollution team said it couldn’t support the continuation of the cumulative impact area in Carmarthen on public nuisance grounds.

The licensing consultation which was part of the three-year review also found a decrease in concerns from respondents about anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related violence, street drinking and noise disturbance.

However it was felt there was sufficient evidence to retain so-called “hot spot” areas of alcohol-related crime and disorder on the five streets and square, plus another three streets in Carmarthen, three in Llanelli and two in Ammanford.

Referring to hot spot areas Ms Neil told the place, sustainability and climate change scrutiny committee: “New applicants will be required to demonstrate what measures they will put in place to enforce against crime and disorder.”

Cllr Kevin Madge said hot spots were starting to spill out from towns into villages. “It’s really getting out of control,” he said.

Ms Neil said there was nothing to stop them becoming hot spot areas in licensing terms if there was sufficient evidence. She added that the council continued to work closely with police.