Closing hours debate. Chairman of the Municipal Board Anneli Hulthén (Social Democrats), does not believe the solution for Avenyn lies in 3:00 am or 5:00 am closing times for nightclubs. She wants to see more alternatives and has postponed the Social Democrats' standpoint on the issue.

No one is investigating other alternatives at this stage, but Anneli Hulthén mentions a couple of ideas to Göteborgs-Posten (GP):

- Different serving hours for nightclubs depending on the time of the year, for example 5:00 am during the summer and 3:00 am during the winter.

- Better spread of the nightclubs with a 5:00 am closing time. Today most of the 5.00 am nightclubs are located on Avenyn.

- A certain number of 5:00 am licenses should be made available every year. The nightclubs that had one the previous year have to step back in order for others to apply.

"I understand that young people want 5:00 am closing times. I respect that. At the same time I understand residents in the area who are disturbed by the sound level and problems that come with the night-life such as violence, drunkenness and illegal taxis. But we have to broaden the discussions about Avenyn", says Anneli Hulthén to GP.

She believes the Social Democrats in Gothenburg will make a decision on their standpoint some time during the spring.

The Left Party, the Greens and the Christian Democrats have already decided to back the early closing time proposal. However, the Moderats and the Liberal are against it.

Anneli Hulthén thinks the parade street Avenyn has lost much of its past glory.

"It needs more variation of content and more people visiting Avenyn. I'm not there particularly often, unless I'm visiting Stadsteatern or during the Culture Festival. When I go out for dinner I more often visit the side-streets."

Apart from the nightclub discussion there is ongoing work on the Avenyn to improve safety through lighting, reduced drunkenness and remove illegal taxis from the area.

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