AN action plan to improve the image of Scarborough town centre at night has been launched.

Publicans, nightspot owners, councillors, business leaders, magistrates, police, schools and colleges, and hospital staff are among the people who have helped draw up a draft strategy that has been put out for public consultation.

The report, which was welcomed at a presentation at Stephen Joseph Theatre, says: "The overall aim is to improve the reputation of the town centre at night so that a wider range of people, young, old and families, feel more comfortable."

The objective is to reduce the dominance of the pubs and clubs monoculture, the report says.

It says that a more attractive environment and streetscene is needed, better taxi and bus services, streetlighting and pedestrian streets.

More stringent conditions on planning permission, the issuing of licences and higher levels of enforcement are also called for.

Staggered closing times between nightclubs and the setting up of a no-pubs zone are among other ideas put forward.

The police are urged to support a town centre desig- nated area within which individuals considered to create a risk of disorder can be excluded.