TARGETS have been set to reduce fear of crime, litter and irresponsible drinking in Basingstoke town centre.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has drawn up a list of areas to tackle over the next five months as part of its night-time economy policy.

The project was launched in 2005 with a widespread public consultation about how to make the town centre a safe and welcoming environment for all sections of the community at night.

An action plan was implemented early last year, but in May, members of the council's economic and community development overview committee said targets needed to be set to measure the progress of the night-time economy project.

The targets include an 11 per cent reduction in violent incidents in the town centre by 2008, reducing the average waiting time for a taxi from eight minutes to seven minutes, and providing three extra on-street disabled parking bays by June 2007.

Committee members welcomed the targets, but asked for more targets to improve or increase positive elements of the night-time economy, instead of focusing on negative aspects like crime.

Some committee members also criticised the targets for not being tough enough.

Councillor Roger Gardiner said: "I thought the targets were terribly timid. A 10 per cent reduction in litter is not stretching."

Council corporate director Karen Brimacombe said the targets were an interim measure to monitor progress until a full evaluation of the project is carried out in June.

She added: "We are hoping that by June we will be able to set more stretching targets."