Posse's night visit (From Stroud News and Journal)

Posse's night visit

IT was almost a silent night for a cohort of council officers on Friday as they pounded the pavements of the town into the early hours on a nocturnal fact-finding mission.

Ebley Mill's transport, street lighting and litter experts were out in force with town centre manager Vicky Hancock to get a better idea of Stroud nightlife.

And they found the streets almost deserted as the night proved to be one of the quietest of the year so far, with police making just one arrest.

"We have seen it is like any other town of it's size in the UK," said anti-social behaviour co-ordinator Colin Peake. "There have been no major problems.

"Obviously there a lot of youngsters and a strong youth element but there are a lot of middle-aged people as well out in the Sub Rooms and other establishments.

"One of the main issues was litter, particularly where people stand at the taxi rank and there will be more discussions with our environmental contractors about that."

Ms Hancock said the night operation was part of an ongoing campaign to look at Stroud's nightlife and evening economy and how it could be improved.

"We wanted to be prepared for the opening of the cinema development in July and make sure we have got the facilities to cope with the mix of people coming in," she said. "It is very youth-centred, like a lot of towns, but that is starting to change."

One of the businesses helping to bring in the change is the Angel Caf Bar in Union Street, a licensed restaurant that opens late on weekends and attracts a wide range of age groups.

Co-owner Joy Cope said: "We've tried to create a place with sociable eating you can combine with something else.

"We do serve alcohol but wanted to move away from just binge drinking to a more relaxed attitude - that is what we are about.

"For the first few weeks some of our customers were quite nervous about coming into Stroud on Friday and Saturday nights but it is fine now. We have never had a problem in here."

The band of visitors also checked out pubs and clubs in the town centre and events at the Stroud Subscription Rooms. Hector Cobbe, manager of popular town centre pub the Greyhound, said he was glad to see them.

"It is good for them to see what people get up to," he said. "It is all very well being in charge but they need to see things for themselves."

More nocturnal investigations are planned later in the year to see how the Merrywalks cinema development effects evening in the town.