THE founder of two popular Glasgow nightclubs has questioned whether the city’s ‘night tsar’ is a role for just one person.
Council leader Susan Aitken revealed plans to introduce a night time commissioner to support licensed trade in the city on Tuesday.
Donald MacLeod, founder of the Cathouse and The Garage, believes the plan can be an “opportunity” but might need a group approach.
He has also called for a “bespoke solution for Glasgow”.
“I can’t see yet how a person would be able to control that,” he said, suggesting a group of people, interacting with each other, might be more suitable. He asked whether a single person would have the influence to shape policy.
Read more: Night Tsar to be appointed to unite Glasgow's pub and club trade
Club bosses and event organisers have raised concerns with Council plans over the last year.
Owners of popular nightclub Sub Club fear they may experience a rise in noise complaints if plans to build a JD Wetherspoon hotel, approved by the Council, near to the Jamaica Street venue go-ahead.
The decision is said to have left them feeling “vulnerable”.
And Geoff Ellis, chief executive of DF Concerts, which runs TRNSMT, King Tut’s and the Summer Sessions, claimed he would take his business elsewhere if an outdoor entertainment tax is introduced.
The concert ticket levy, up to £2.50, would lead to fewer events and fewer people visiting the city, he said.
Mr MacLeod said: “It’s an opportunity to learn from what has gone wrong in the past and to ensure
it doesn’t happen going forward.”
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He agreed transport in and out of the city would need to be a priority.
The appointment is likely to follow Manchester’s model, where an adviser, supported by a panel of experts, champions the area’s nightlife.
Mr MacLeod was at the meeting where Ms Aitken revealed the Manchester model was currently the favourite, in his role as Local Licensing Forum convener.
He said: “I do believe that you look at models, like Manchester, but we come up with a bespoke solution for Glasgow because every city is different.”
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