Worried licencees fear the proposed new hostelry – on Horsefair – will fuel spiralling levels of booze-fuelled crime on the streets and kill off their businesses.

Wakefield Council’s licensing committee could approve Wetherspoon’s application for the outlet, which would replace the YMCA charity shop, at a meeting on Monday.

Toby Metcalfe, landlord at the Red Lion Hotel on Market Place, said: “I’m dubious about the reasons Wetherspoon is coming here – it’s not for the affluence of Pontefract.

“My concern is that people will be able to go there and get tanked up on cheap beer before terrorising the town centre.

“Crime is spiralling already and only time will tell if a Wetherspoon will make that worse.”

Two objections to the Wetherspoon application have been submitted to council chiefs – including one from John Wain, landlord at the Malt Shovel Hotel on Cornmarket.

In the letter he said cut-price alcohol and early pub opening hours encouraged people to drink more and cause trouble.

He added: “I am told that objections such as this are a waste of time as this is already a done deal.

“Indeed, Wetherspoon are already sending out circulars advertising ales at £1.50 as “coming to Pontefract”.

“I sincerely hope and trust that this is not the case and that we may be able to apply sense to a nonsensical world.”

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