DESPITE widespread concern, the Government is pressing ahead with its new licensing laws, due to come into effect in November.

This newspaper is reserving judgement until the full effects of liberalisation of opening hours becomes apparent.

We're not convinced that Britain will switch from binge-drinking to pavement society overnight.

We feel that long summer holidays spent in Provence or Brittany may have turned the heads of too many ministers.

However, ladies and gentlemen, today we ask you to raise your glasses and toast Richard Everton, the owner of the Crown and Sandys Arms.

For with the help of the relevant council department, he and his neighbours in Ombersley have sat around the table and thrashed out their differences.

The result was a compromise. Mr Everton agreed to modify his application for serving late drinks and also promised to ask customers to leave quietly.

He's also announced a number of measures to ensure that noise will be prevented or kept to a minimum.

It all goes to show that a good old chinwag should always be the first resort when differences have to be resolved.

All too often, opposing factions can become bogged down in official hearings, when all that's needed is mediation.

In fact, Licensing Unit leader Graham Simms wants to encourage more informal gatherings should further problems arise.

We agree. Making points over pints is the right way to do it.