Late Night Levy - Tameside say "Not at the moment... maybe later"

Plans to introduce a late night levy across Tameside were shelved at a meeting of the full Council this week.

The proposal to apply a levy to premises retailing alcohol between 00:01hr and 06:00hr daily would have, it was initially thought, raised more than £181,000 a year from 220 effected premises across nine towns within the Metropolitan area - such monies being directing to reducing crime and disorder arising in the late night economy.

At their meeting the Council voted against the proposal, citing the poor financial climate and the difficult financial situation many businesses are currently experiencing. This decision which will no doubt be welcomed by the Tameside licensing community which overwhelmingly voiced their objection to this additional burden during the consultation period early this year.

The possibility of a levy is not however entirely dead as the Council stated that the issue may be re-consulted upon in the future, if (when) the current financial climate improves.

We shall keep you posted.