Proposal to lift restrictions opens door to takeaways

Published on Wednesday 28 January 2009 09:02

THE door is set to be opened for new pubs and takeaways to be created in some of the busiest areas around the city centre.

Tough restrictions on the issuing of new licenses would be lifted in Nicolson Street, Clerk Street, King's Stables Road and several side streets around Tollcross, including Fountainbridge, under plans being considered.

The move has raised concerns among community leaders about a potential rise in antisocial behaviour in the areas affected.

The council created its "sensitive areas" scheme in 1998 to curb late-night noise and disturbance in places with large numbers of residents and licensed premises. In those areas, there is an assumption against granting new licenses after 8pm, effectively banning new pubs and takeaways in all but exceptional circumstances.

The council is now looking at redrawing its map of "sensitive" areas.

Most of the city's busiest streets for pubs and clubs including the Grassmarket, Cowgate and Lothian Road are still included. George Street and the West End have always been exempt due to their small number of residents.

The revised plans, which have been out to consultation and will be decided on by councillors by the summer, today received a mixed response.

Chris Wigglesworth, a former convener of the council's regulatory committee, who helped put together Tollcross Community Council's response to the changes, said: "There is certainly a feeling that we do have over-provision in this area which is why we are concerned about any plans to slim down these areas of sensitivity.

"It seems silly to have, say, one street with three pubs deemed sensitive but a street around the corner is not."

The draft new plans also include confirmation of the council's intention to exempt cafs and restaurants from the sensitive area restrictions. This is likely to see more cafes in the Old Town, for example, applying to open beyond the existing curfew of 8pm.

Councillor Eric Barry, who represents Labour on the city's licensing board, said: "It seems to be more about the areas they don't include rather than the areas they do. It seems clear there are issues of litter and potentially over-provision in the West End, George Street and Picardy Place."