Last orders served on ‘Cinderella’ curfew
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AXEING a nine-year long curfew preventing drinkers going into pubs and clubs after midnight is a "boozer’s charter" according to a Thurso councillor against the move.
John Rosie has blasted the about-turn which hunged on Highland Council’s Licensing Board chair Maxine Smith’s casting vote at Tuesday’s meeting in Inverness on Tuesday.
The controversial "Cinderella" curfew prevented revellers from entering a number of late-night entertainment venues after midnight. These premises included Skinandi’s nightclub and the Newmarket Bar in Thurso.
The decision will overstretch local law enforcement and lead to danger and disorder on the streets of Thurso, claims Mr Rosie.
"I’m appalled by the decision," said Mr Rosie. "Licensing was put in place to protect individuals and the public from the excesses of drink. What was passed in Inverness was nothing less than a boozer’s charter.
"They ignored police advice and they ignored advice from the health service – both of which are critical."
The board’s door entry policy split opinion across the Highlands and made for a lengthy debate among members of the board with the vote resulting in a 5-5 deadlock.
Ms Smith used her casting vote to abolish the rule, which will take effect from December 18. Prior to the ruling, the only Caithness councillor on the board, landward’s Willie Mackay, put forward a compromise of a curfew from 1am – but that did not attract any support.
"I felt if we had a later starting time then everyone would get something out of it," said Mr Mackay. "It would have given publicans a chance with a 1am licence but I didn’t get a seconder. I was most surprised."
The votes in favour of scrapping the policy all came from SNP members.
Although the board agreed to remove the policy, this will only apply to new applications. The board will require to individually review each currently affected premises to specifically remove this condition. A board meeting on December 18 is expected to ratify this.
Ms Smith said the evidence in favour of keeping the curfew was "not overwhelming" and other improved factors such as door staff training, CCTV and more police on the beat had helped drop crime statistics and not just the door policy.
But Mr Mackay reckons that despite his failed attempt at creating middle ground, people should be given a chance.
"The people are shouting that it is nine years since this curfew was introduced and we have a new generation of revellers on our streets now," he said.
"They should be given a chance to show their good behaviour record and hopefully they will and not fall into unruly anti-social behaviour that Northern Constabulary is expecting if the curfew is to go."
"This is a great opportunity for the younger generation that they can work together with police now that the curfew has been abolished."
Following the scrapping of the curfew, Northern Constabulary’s Chief Superintendent Julian Innes said the lifting of the late night door entry policy is a matter solely for the licensing board.
"Northern Constabulary has provided its professional views, backed up with data and analysis," he said.
"Our job is to continue to ensure that Inverness and the Highlands and Islands as a whole remain some of the safest places to live, work and socialise in the UK."
Mr Innes added that individuals had a responsibilty to respect others while on a night out and those who stepped out of line would be deal with according to the relevant legislation.
But Mr Rosie reckons there could be trouble brewing.
"If they are sitting until 3am in the morning, the more they are drinking and the more devilment there will be when they eventually come out," he said.
"We’re bitterly disappointed but we’re not going to take it lying down."
Mr Rosie and his colleague Cllr Donnie Mackay have vowed to fight the decision.
"The Scottish Government is wanting less drinking not more and this is just going to cause more problems and the police will be overrun," said Donnie Mackay.
"We’re part of Highland Council but if this happens and keeps on happening we have to look at ourselves and say enough is enough."
Mixed reaction to U-turn
THE "Cinderella curfew" has split opinion across the Highlands over the last nine years since its introduction.
This week’s announcement that licensed premises can apply to have it lifted from December 18 has, if anything, polarised the debate in Thurso – the only place in Caithness where the curfew has been in place.
Jilly Calder, of the Holborn Hotel and Bar, found her business was suffering as punters left in their droves more than an hour before closing time to meet the midnight curfew in force at Skinandi’s (the town’s Newmarket Bar is also subject to the deadline.).
An empty bar also meant staff were not getting a full shift and lost out on wages.
She said she was delighted the licensing board had opted to axe the scheme. "I think it’s going to be really great for the town and for our business, as it should mean we can keep customers to our licensed time of 1am," said Mrs Calder.
"Hopefully this means we can continue with more staff and put more events on which people will support until the end of the night instead of leaving early."
Mrs Calder said she was looking forward to seeing a livelier pub scene at the weekends and hoped everyone would understand the need not to ruin the opportunity.
"We just hope the people who do go out understand how much hard work has gone into getting the curfew lifted and behave themselves," she said. "It’s nice to know that all the business involved are now on a level playing field."
Just a few streets away at Skinandi’s nightclub – which still has the midnight curfew in place until further notice – owner Brian Cardosi has mixed feelings about the door entry policy.
"Everything that encourages general trade in the town is a benefit to everyone," he said. "If it gives a better night of entertainment then people are more likely to come out and support local premises and the local economy."
But Mr Cardosi said the scrapping of the curfew also raised questions. If people could go to his club later, would they spend more time unsupervised, drinking cheap supermarket-bought alcohol in their homes?
"The on-trade licensee is bearing the brunt and being condemned for the alcohol sold from off licences and supermarkets," he told the Groat.
"People are drinking a lot and fast. Then they come down to the nightclub and the drink hasn’t hit their system so they seem okay.
"They have one more drink and then we’re having to clean up the mess from the drink they bought from the supermarket."
Mr Cardosi reckons the solution is in getting the public into licensed premises earlier where they can be supervised.
"I did notice when the curfew first came in disorder on the street was hugely reduced," he added. "You almost felt that the street was a safer place to be."
He plans to speak his customers, the police and licensing officials before making the decision whether to apply to have the curfew lifted after December 18.
"If it helps other bars get trade then it’s all good and well," he said.
"But if it means we are all standing around longer waiting for that little bit of trade, it’s a pointless exercise and won’t help police maintain control."
The club owner also mooted the idea of moving the Skinandi’s curfew to a later time such as 1am – when many of the local bars close.
