Clubbers should be evicted from Colchester's Hippodrome to make way for an upmarket High Street.

Heard nothing - Carl Johnson, new manager of the Hippodrome nightclub in Colchester High Street, says the venue has no plans to leave Picture: NIGEL BROWN

In a bid to change the culture of Colchester at night, a wish-list has been drawn up to change the appearance of the town.

It would see the town's High Street focused more on shopping and restaurants and away from the pubs and clubs synonymous with the youth drinking culture.

The move was identified as part of 12 key issues for the Strategy to Tackle All Night-Time Disorder in Colchester (Stand), which brings together the Colchester Town Partnership and Colchester Crime and Reduction Partnership.

But Luminar Leisure has ruled out any plans for it to move out of the historic Hippodrome, which next year will celebrate its centenary.

Carl Johnson, manager of the club, said: "We are here where we are in the High Street. We don't have any plans to move in the foreseeable future and I haven't heard of any plans to move."

He added: "I think the town economy seems to run quite nicely, there is the right amount of late-night licences for the people on the street."

Steve Peri owns the building and has leased it to Luminar. The lease has about 48 years left to run.

Mr Peri said the partnership should have spoken to him or Luminar first about the proposal and any drinking-related problems, and questioned what the Hippodrome could be used for other than an entertainments venue.

Chris Rawlinson, of Colchester Town Partnership, said: "(The Hippodrome moving) is on a wish-list at the moment. The consultants came in and could see the bigger picture, to change the existing character and nature of High Street so that it is much less club-orientated and more shop and restaurant-related."

Published Thursday July 8, 2004

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