WOLVO: “WHAT NEXT, A LICENSE TO BREATHE?”

26-01-2008

Black Country music promoter Steve Harrington reckons you’ll soon need a licence to breathe in Wolverhampton, after learning that he’s got to cough up £250 for the privilege of handing out nightclub flyers.

Harrington has only been told that a permit system was introduced in November for anyone who wants to hand out leaflets in the city centre – even though the local council insists there was full consultation.

“That’s news to me,” says Harrington who runs a variety of alternative nights at different venues in the area including After Dark and Club Hell (http://www.myspace.com/yourclubhell)

“I’ve been speaking to other club owners and promoters and they weren’t aware of it either,” he adds.

The controversy comes shortly after Wolverhampton announced it was introducing an annual £150 charge for traders using so-called “A boards” – small advertising hoardings on the pavement. Some traders claim that without the boards, shoppers simple won't know they exist.

Although the Council hasn’t responded to our enquiry about the leaflet licence, sources suggest that the aim is to reduce litter – although, of course, it’s a handy revenue raiser as well.

Harrington warns, though, that it could be counter-productive.

“This city is dying on its arse,” he said.

“Popworld and O’Neill’s are boarded up, while the Red Bar is up for sale, and the Old Still is being sold and the new owners won’t have a drinks licence. So that’s four bars that have closed or are on the verge of it.

It’s not the big chains like Oceanna that will struggle, they are always packed because they can afford to take out expensive ads in the radio and the paper. But small promoters can’t afford to operate on that level, and that kind of thing doesn’t always work for us anyway.

“The Council always say they want to help small business, but this is going to make it much harder for us. What are we going to need next? A licence to breathe?”

Is Wolvo dying on its arse?

Can you understand why the Council is issuing a permit for people issuing flyers?

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