Cormie seeks radical solution to weekend mayhem on streets

Licensing chief issues call to curb the rowdies

By Calum Ross

Published:

Bill Cormie : xxx

An Aberdeen licensing chief has called for high-level talks to find a radical solution to alcohol-fuelled violence, vandalism and littering by weekend revellers in the city centre.

New figures obtained by the Press and Journal show that the clean-up operation in Aberdeen city centre costs the local authority £12,000 every weekend in overtime pay alone – more than £600,000 a year.

City centre councillor and licensing board member Bill Cormie wants a ban on nightclubs distributing promotional fliers and a requirement for licensees to help cover the clean-up costs.

He is calling on Aberdeen Licensing Board to arrange an urgent meeting involving the police, health board, licensees and city centre associations to try to tackle the “serious problems” caused by antisocial behaviour.

Mr Cormie, who was left shocked after witnessing drink-fuelled violence while touring the city centre with police last month, said it was unfair for taxpayers to be footing the bill and called for immediate action.

“I want a summit to pull everybody together because we have really got to take a very heavy stance on this,” he said.

“We need to change the whole culture in the city centre.

“We’re getting to a stage where youngsters are coming into the city centre from a very young age to shout, scream and misbehave, and they think that’s normal behaviour.

“The litter is absolutely horrendous, particularly the fliers.

“There are literally thousands of them lying on the ground because they don’t even touch people’s hands most of the time.

“Bar staff don’t know whether they’re serving someone who is intoxicated and, when I see them on the street, they don’t even know where they are because they’re so disorientated.”

Mr Cormie added that it was affecting communities across the city as drunken revellers caused damage to cars, litter bins and gardens on their way home.

The council spends about £3.5million a year trying to keep the streets of Aberdeen clean and the vast majority of the effort is directed at the city centre.

Mike Wilson, managing director of Epic group, which owns several city-centre pubs and clubs, including The Priory and The Monkey House, said he would be willing to attend the meeting.

He rejected Mr Cormie’s call for a ban on fliers but agreed that too many teenagers were coming into the city centre at weekends.

“I don’t know how he can say that about fliers,” he said.

“You can’t ban premises from promoting their products.

“If there is going to be a forum for constructive dialogue where all sides can be listened to, then of course, count me in.”

An initiative called Unight was launched on Monday, with 14 city-centre nightspots sharing a database to try to identify and ban troublemakers.

Aberdeen City Centre Association chairman John Michie said Mr Cormie’s proposed meeting and the Unight scheme were positive steps in the battle against rowdyism.

“I think the fact this has all come together at the same time should be welcomed,” he said.

“There is a problem in Aberdeen. I think you could do an awful lot more to improve the environment.

“I think the lack of toilets is reprehensible, although the new Union Street taxi ranks are a major step forward.”

Culture

Mr Cormie’s motion is to be discussed by Aberdeen’s licensing board next week.

Board member Willie Young said: “The more people get together to speak about what is going on in Aberdeen city centre the better.

“However, let’s remember that there is a night-time culture out there and the licensing board shouldn’t be in the business of closing that down.”

An NHS Grampian spokesman said the board would consider an invitation to attend the summit seriously.

“Alcohol abuse is one of the three areas of greatest public health concern, along with obesity and diabetes, and tackling it is a priority for NHS Grampian,” he said.

“Access is easier and rising alcohol use is impacting upon the health and wellbeing of the population of Scotland.

“Anything which helps reduce alcohol consumption is to be welcomed.”

Grampian Police declined to comment last night.