'Teamwork is key' for town centre safety in Torbay

Too many bars in one area cause issues

Torbay councillors want tighter controls on the number of pubs, clubs and bars in parts of the town.

This week, the council’s cabinet decided to ask the public for their views on plans to curb crime, disorder and public nuisance.

There are two parts of Torquay in which the ‘cumulative impact’ of bars is monitored – the harbourside and the Castle Circus area of the town centre.

Problems are not just centred around a single venue, but come from the sheer number of people in places where there is a high concentration of bars.

The Licensing Act 2003 gives the council powers to publish a ‘cumulative impact assessment’  when a concentration of licensed premises causes problems. This makes it much more difficult for venues in those areas to apply for a new licence, extend their hours or increase their capacity.

Any application in the areas under scrutiny will probably be refused unless the venue can show they won’t cause any harm.

Cllr Hayley Tranter (Con, Goodrington with Roselands) said the council is determined to work with partners, including the police and businesses, to protect residents and visitors, while ensuring the night-time economy continues to thrive in a safe environment.

Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) said he was pleased to see that police are also supporting the council’s work in the two areas in question.

“It’s about teamwork,” he said. “Working together to make sure that people are safe in our town centres.”

The draft assessment has now gone out for a six-week consultation which will end on Thursday 5 October.

Full details, and the draft assessment, are on the Torbay Council website.