PLANS to charge night spots up to £4,000 a year to open into the early hours of the morning have been shelved.

The idea was being considered by a special task and finish group set up by Colchester Council to look into making the town centre safer at night time.

It had been proposed the money collected from pubs and clubs in Colchester would be collected by Essex Police Crime Commissioner and ring-fenced for reinvestment in the town to fund extra police officers, the SOS Bus and clean-up costs.

But at its latest meeting, the task and finish group voted to delay moving on with the proposals because the council and police are already taking stronger action on rogue town centre venues than they had previously.

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