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A prominent Labour councillor has been banned for life by Chester Pubwatch after being accused of common assault while on a night out in the city centre .

Cllr Matt Bryan, 29, who represents Upton on Cheshire West and Chester Council , pleaded not guilty at his first hearing before Chester magistrates following the incident at Kuckoo in Watergate Street on February 13 this year.

There will be a trial in November.

Cllr Bryan, deputy chairman of the licensing committee, has decided to stand down from the committee until the matter is resolved.

The councillor, who lives in Kings Crescent West, Chester, has become well known for his anti-fracking stance.

He has been charged with common assault and use of threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of/provoke unlawful violence.

The lifetime Pubwatch ban - understood to have been issued on March 25 - will prevent Cllr Bryan from entering Chester licensed premises signed up to the scheme.

However, Pubwatch has a procedure by which banned individuals can submit an appeal.

In a statement, Cllr Bryan said: “Pubwatch is an organisation that works hard to support licensed premises and their employees in our city. When an issue is raised, they have a duty to respond and I respect that. I will be writing to the chairman of Pubwatch privately to discuss this matter. I will be absolutely clear, I have not been found guilty of any offence.”

He added: “The doorman has suggested that I had ‘spat at him’ – an accusation that I deny entirely. I have pleaded not guilty and I am confident that there will be a positive outcome when the case is heard in November. In the meantime I have decided to stand down from the licensing committee until this is resolved.”

Frank Marnell, chairman of Chester Pubwatch, did not wish to comment.