ARKELLS Brewery has protested over plans to allow councillors - rather than magistrates to decide whether pubs are granted licences.

The Swindon brewery has warned that elected politicians will not be as fair as the courts in deciding whether or not to give the green light.

It fears councillors will be too easily swayed by arguments from residents against pubs opening or being allowed to stay open late.

Arkells' fears were put forward in the House of Lords as part of a last-minute attempt to halt the proposal, contained in the government's Licensing Bill. They were read out by Lord Stoddart of Swindon, the town's Labour MP for 13 years until 1983, who also opposes the move.

The government believes giving councillors the responsibility will allow residents to have a greater say over moves towards 24-hour drinking.

The Bill, expected to become law in the summer, will also allow pubs to open round-the-clock, based on police advice and the decision of the council.

But Lord Stoddart told peers: "Arkells has expressed serious concerns about the transfer of licensing powers from magistrates to local authorities.

"The brewery, along with many others, fears that the local authority will not be as fair or impartial as the magistrates. Furthermore, local authorities are subject to electoral pressures.

"Arkell's fears that councils will be the judge, jury and chief witness for the prosecution and that they will ride roughshod over the fears of the little man. Those fears may be justified."

However, an amendment to allow magistrates to retain the power to grant licences was defeated paving the way for the measure to become law.

The shift to vary opening hours is backed by police officers who feel that staggering closure time would reduce trouble in town centres.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown (Lab) said she plans to back the Licensing Bill. She said: "The Government's intention is to simplify the six different licensing systems that we have into one and that makes a lot of sense.

"Local authorities do have an important role to play in representing their communities. They are ultimately answerable to the people of Swin- don in a way that magistrates aren't."