Travel arrangements to get clubbers and pubbers safely home after a night out are to be reviewed by a team of councillors investigating ways to improve Croydon's night-time economy.

With the potential for as many as 20,000 people pouring into venues with entertainment licences alone, a large number of people have to be moved away from the town centre in the early hours especially at weekends. This in turn leads to pressure on the reduced number of trains and buses that are running at this time of the morning.

Although the council has no direct powers to intervene, members of the scrutiny sub-committee believe they are well-placed to lobby public transport operators for improved services to meet the heavy night time demand. Members also believe there may be opportunities for new means of transport to be introduced.

Councillor Sean Fitzsimons said: "Croydon's night time economy has taken off in the last five or six years and is really buzzing. In the central area there has been, perhaps, a tendency for venues to attract young people who do not want sophisticated entertainment or to sit down for a meal.

"However, market conditions change and we are already seeing welcome signs of new fashions being adopted and commercial operators reaching out to more mature audiences.

"We feel there is merit in assisting this diversity and the council can help maintain Croydon's popularity by, for example, talking to transport operators, leisure industry representatives, and developers."

November 26, 2001 12:00