news AGENDA
Glasgow elubs welcome death of the curfew
While councillors prepare to axe Glasgow's controversial nightclub curfew, they face another test with the risque Erotica exhibition.
Words Stephen Naysmith
NEWS THAT Glasgow is to reconsider its much- criticised curfew scheme has been welcomed by clubs and clubbers, With even the police offering no objection
The five-year-old restriction means that clubs in the
city have to close their doors by 1am The policy was designed to improve safety in the city centre in the
early hours but has been critiCised for damaging the
city's image as a cosmopolitan tourist destination. Glasgow’s licensing board Will now review the
curfew in June. Previous revrews have seen the entry
time pushed back from midnight to 12.30am and i then to lam, but this time board members are hotly
tipped to remove the curfew completely for a trial period.
Councillor James Coleman, chairman of the licensing board, would not comment on the likely
j outcome of the review but admitted: 'The feeling is
that it is time to have another look at it. We will be
discussing it With trade organisations during the next it‘V'J ‘.".’(‘(‘k$ I
Club owners .say the move is not before time, although most claim their busrness hasn’t been affected Tony MacCrimmon, owner of the Sub Club
’The last thing Glasgow needs is an exhibition that panders to the more questionable side
of sexual practices.’ Ann Allen, convener,
Church of Scotland board of social responsibility
said 'This is way overdue The main benefit will be to tourists coming to the City
'Bar staff \‘Vlll also benefit « if you are a student working part-time in a West End bar you have zero chance of getting into the CH)! centre before the curfew,’ he explained.
Ron McCulloch, chairman of the Big Beat group,
owners of The Tunnel, also welcomed the news. 'The
biggest difference Will be that we Will no longer have
5 to explain to Visitors to the city every weekend what on earth it is all about.
buried, the front page picture of a
'The violence which the curfew was intended to address had already diminished by the time it was introduced. Now with the city centre CCTV cameras there really isn't a problem,’ he added.
Club-goers believe the change Will revrtalise the city's nightlife. One seasoned clubber said: 'This Will be an extraordinary kick up the arse for Glasgow.
'You could end up With clubs opening their doors at Sam as some do in Manchester and Leeds. Clubbers could go from one club to another all night — if it goes that way it would be fantastic.’
This is a scenario the police would like to avord, but Superintendent Donald Reid of Strathclyde Police's City centre diVision said, 'We are very comfortable with this. We are happy to look at anything that helps sell Glasgow as a great place to vrsrt and be in'
Meanwhile Glasgow's licensing committee faces another dilemma With the proposed Erotica 98 exhibition at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in September.
The ’erotic fair’ Will test the crty’s open-mindedness to the limit, With plans to exhibit a Wide variety of sex aids, bondage clothing and equipment, VldC‘OS, magazines and lingerie,
And finally. . . Innocents abroad,dadsat sea I m
IF EVER YOU needed any proof that the age of innocence is dead and
bottling up their feelings, and becoming alienated and depressed — leading to potential violence and mayhem. Apparently, staff were alarmed by hard man attitudes and
Cur-phew: Clubbers heave sigh of relief
The exhibition needs a sex shop licence to go ahead, and With a deCision due on 8 April the licensing committee has received thousands of objections.
Both the Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic leaders have condemned it and urged members of their congregations to protest.
Ann Allen, convener of the Church of Scotland's Board of Socral Responsibility said the response was representative of a ’huge sense of unease‘ about Erotica. ’The last thing Glasgow needs is an exhibition that panders to the more questionable Side of sexual practices,’ .she said.
A councrl insider admitted this is a hot potato no one wants to handle. ’There have been plenty of objections -< at least 3000,’ he said. 'You could say it has created ourte a StOOShy.’
Savvas Christodoulou, managing director of Erotica Ltd, said he was baffled by opposition to the event.
‘I don’t think they understand What we are doing,’ he protested. ‘They are missing the pornt. This is a fun day out, for adults only
'We are not attracting the extremes of society. Our shows are attended by a large number of women and couples - it is aimed at Mr and Mrs Average.
'I hope the council Will take a forward thinking decision in the interests of the majority, not a vociferous mrnorrty,’ he concluded.
strategy for cutting the rate of teenage pregnancies. Of course, there may be an element of guilt involved, editors having spent the last few years encouraging girls to get it as often and in as many
nipper being taught by his old man how to fire a rifle must surely have
provided it. Much wailing and
gnashing has occured since the : slaughter of four girls and their ' teacher in an Arkansas playground.
It's the filmmakers' fault. It's the TV
producers' fault. Well, maybe it’s got something to so with the
: availability of firearms and the willingness of parents to let their
little angels get their hands on
them. And don’t even think that it
can't and won’t happen here. PARTICULARLY WHEN SCOTTISH
f dads are acting like a nation of lock Waynes. The ’strong silent' approach was slated by researchers
at Edinburgh University, who concluded that kids respond by
terms of endearment such as 'clip round the ear’. Reports suggesting that the shrinking violet researchers have since become withdrawn and prone to outbursts of aggression are unconfirmed.
TEACHERS AT A primary school in West Lothian have had so much wind put up them that they have been given personal attack alarms. Parents and staff have been at loggerheads for some time and the final straw came when Ronald Stewart, father of two pupils at Woodmuir Primary School in Breich, was fined £100 for breach of the peace after placing the head teacher Valerie Brodie in a state of fear and alarm. Presumably he offered her a 'clip round the ear,‘ or some other casual threat.
Thomas: not chuffed
IF PARENTS AREN'T setting the right example then who better to guide our youngsters than the teen magazines? The Government has met with editors to thrash out a
positions as humanly possible.
EVEN THOMAS THE Tank Engine is far from safe from the ravages of all that adult stuff. Britt Allcroft Company, which owns the rights to the lovable choo choo, has four people employed solely to track down those who profit illegally from his popularity. Yet, maybe hope and innocence will out in the end. After a hefty struggle, the parents of a four-year-old meningitis victim were eventually permitted to have an image of Thomas put on his gravestone. A Pitlochry church had deemed it ‘inappropriate' but relented and little Jonathan Ringrose had his final wish come true. Ringo would be very proud. (Brian Donaldson)
20 Mar—2 Apr 1998 THE UST 25