A DRASTIC drop in the number of revellers on Westgate has forced a major nightclub to close and could turn the city into a ghost-town.
The infamous Buzz nightclub has been hit so hard by the plummeting number of punters it will call time tonight.
And police and licensees say others could follow suit as the night-time economy dries up.
They claim Westgate's bad reputation, change
s to licensing laws and the rise of out-of-town destinations have driven people away. The number of people coming into Wakefield at night has dropped by as much as a third.
But police and licensees clubbed together this week to insist Wakefield was no longer a boozy danger zone – and it was time people realised what Wakefield had to offer and came back.
Licensing sergeant John Emmerson, who has more than 30 years' experience of policing Wakefield nightlife, said the city needed to move on.
He said: "The impression of Wakefield as a violent place full of drunkards is totally false and we need to put it to bed, or it could kill the city centre.
"If we perpetuate the myth, you could foresee a situation where it becomes a ghost town. The fact of the matter is we may lose people who might never come back.
"Wakefield has changed and we want people to know it's a safe place for a night out."
Figures show violent crimes in the city centre at weekends have fallen consistently during the past two years.
Stuart Woodward, chairman of Wakefield licensees' Pubwatch, said the fact local pubs could now stay open had affected city centre businesses. The attraction of places like Xscape was also a factor.
He added: "Wakefield has also been fighting a blot on its copybook in terms of the reputation of Westgate – unfairly so, because the statistics show that violent crime is down.
"At the moment, the situation is pretty bleak for the city centre. The licensees believe we are far more important to this city in terms of employment and inward investment than anyone gives us credit for.
"It would only take another Xscape, or investment somewhere like Barnsley, to do some serious damage."
Ashley Crecraft, director of Independent Leisure, which runs Havana and Beluga Lounge, said the city had suffered falling numbers, but bars were changing the way they worked. He said: "We want to change the perceived image of Wakefield.
"Once upon a time it was all about Westgate. Now we have different quarters offering a variety of entertainment."
Buzz, on Westgate, opens its doors tonight for the last time in more than 15 years after being hit by falling takings. The club's 40 staff were told the news last week.
Operator Luminar Leisure said the saga over plans to open a 2,000-capacity Oceana nightclub in Unity House, which houses Buzz, had clouded the venue in uncertainty.
The £5m plans, which were originally approved, were eventually knocked back after an appeal by rival operator Brook Leisure.
Luminar director Steve Dennis said: "The progression of the application over an 18-month period has meant the rumours about its imminent closure for refurbishment has produced an ongoing decline in customer numbers."
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