Councillors have backed plans to limit the number of bars in Oxford's Cowley Road, but said they do not go far enough.

Oxford City Council is looking to extend its saturation policy to include the Cowley Road area. The idea is to make it difficult for new bars, pubs and clubs to open to protect the balance with other shops.

But the council's east area committee, which has discussed the policy, also wants the ban to include the Iffley Road and some nearby streets to stop late night bars springing up on the edge of any 'banned' zone - and leading to the problems they are trying to stamp out.

Committee chairman Nuala Young said: "When we looked at the business of noisy, problematic behaviour we saw there were quite a few incidents on the other side of the Iffley Road, so we would like to see that policy for the whole of the Iffley Road.

"Otherwise we are concerned people will try to boost the few bars on the Iffley Road into late night venues because the Cowley Road is having the limit put in place.

"Cowley Road is a balance of places where people can go and drink, but then those people are going home and people are needing to live and sleep in the residential side streets. We want to get the balance so everyone is happy."

Consultation on the proposed extension of the saturation policy continues until September 22. Saturation policies can only be considered if crime and disorder or public nuisance is emanating from customers of licensed premises.

Chief Insp Jack Malhi, of Oxford Police, said: "Recorded violent crime in East Oxford has gone up by 34.7 per cent. East Oxford has seen an increase in the number of late-night restaurants and entertainment venues, which corresponds to this increase, whereas in the outlying areas like Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, Rose Hill and Iffley, violent crime has fallen by 6.2 per cent, to 20.4 per cent.

"The special saturation policy helps in managing demand, addressing issues of public safety, and crime and disorder, more effectively."

During the consultation period, the city council's area committees will act as a forum for people to comment on the proposals and current licensees and shopkeepers will also be asked for their views.