All-year-round late-night shopping is on the cards for Colchester.
It is just one of the ideas unveiled today to try to encourage more families and older people into the town centre at night.
Other ideas in the report, called Managing the Evening Economy in Colchester, include theme nights in the town centre, minimal tolerance policing for rowdy revellers and two new taxi ranks.
Work on the report carried out by Urban Centres for Colchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Colchester Town Partnership was carried out after research showed many older people and families are put off visiting the town after 6pm because of fear of rowdy behaviour.
Most of the town's shops close at 5.30pm and that is something the new plan is designed to address.
Peter Carrington, community safety officer at Colchester Council, said one of he key ideas being looked at was stores opening as late as 9.30pm throughout the year to change the look and feel of the town.
He said the town would be a nicer place to visit if shops were open and a wide spectrum of people were using the town for other purposes other than drinking.
Published Thursday December 18, 2003
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