Levy on town centre bars after late night 'mayhem'

The levy will be introduced in Bolton town centre in February

A late night levy has been introduced for bars and takeaways in a town centre amid concerns about drunken disorder in the early hours.

Labour-led Bolton Council has brought in the charge for businesses open between 03:00 and 06:00 on the Bradshawgate area after issues with drunkenness, drug-taking and attacks on police.

The levy, which could see some pay as much as £1,493 a year based on the rate-able value of their property, will be used to help fund policing and clean-up operations.

Conservative opposition leader Martyn Cox said the town centre was currently "not a night time economy – it’s mayhem".

There are currently 39 bars, takeaways and supermarket premises within Bolton that would be subject to the levy, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Bradshawgate has seen 429 arrests, 380 stop and searches, 48 dispersal notices and 515 licensed premises compliance checks, in an 18-month period up to August.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) data also showed 136 drunk and disorderly and 32 public order and affray offences were recorded in this time.

'Reoccurring problems'

Cox, who led Bolton Council between 2021 and 2023, said senior police officers told him staff and the public were regularly being injured in "vicious attacks in the area late at night".

The matter was not doing the town any good whatsoever, he said, and backed the late night levy.

A GMP spokesman said there were "reoccurring problems with violence" which had "a significant impact on limited resources and the reputation of Bolton".

The levy will be split between police and the council, which will get up to 30% of the fee to fund services connected to the night time economy.

The charge to businesses will vary from £299 for those with a rateable value of zero to £4,500 and £1,493 for premises with a rateable value in excess of £125,000.

Labour councillor Sue Haworth, who is behind the levy, said the late night economy could generate crime and people "with menace on the mind".

She said Bolton was a university town so many places were open late and "some folk don’t turn out until 2.30am nowadays" .

“Pre-loading goes on and some come into the town centre having been at other venues," she said.

“Other groups congregate nearby takeaways and there are flashpoints. This becomes hard and expensive to police."

The levy is set to be introduced on 1 February 1 next year.