Colchester: Residents slam teenage nightclub plan

Steve Peri, proprietor of the Hippodrome nightclub on High Street, Colchester, wanted to set up monthly disco nights for children under 18.

Representing the club, Kirsty Pearson said the nights would be Mondays or Wednesdays and there would be no access to drinks, no smoking and a special membership scheme which needed a parent's consent.

She said the dance club could cater for as many as 1,298 children, would start at 7pm and run until 10.30pm, and tickets would have to be bought 24 hours in advance.

Miss Pearson told Colchester councillors last night: "There is a dearth of entertainment for youngsters."

She said the children's club night would be monitored by door staff and that anyone caught drinking, taking drugs or smoking would be expelled and have their membership revoked.

But the idea was quashed by Colchester Council licensing sub-committee amid police and resident objections.

A spokesman for Colchester Civic Society said: "It could bring chaos to the town centre.

"Most parents are dubious about allowing young people to travel on public transport at night.

"And when 600 to 700 cars come to drop off or pick up these young people they will try to stop in High Street."

Sgt Dave Salmon said under-18 nights at the club had a bad history. Although the new owners had run the nightclub a lot better, he feared there would still be problems with under-age drinking, disturbance and criminal damage.

Sgt Salmon said that when the previous licensees held an under-18 dance night, police were plagued by calls about under-age drinking and nuisance.

He said: "I think they will always be able to get alcohol. What will happen is that those refused entry will be on the streets, and they will cause problems which is unfair on residents and other people outside the club.

"There is a likelihood that history would repeat itself."

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