The ‘Nite Zone’ idea has been created by the Council, working in close partnership with First Group and Strathclyde Police.  It is designed initially to cope with the upsurge at night of people not just enjoying the regular night entertainment in Glasgow but also festive parties and other seasonal events.

Extending the pilot into January and February will allow an assessment of how it may work in the longer term.

The area covered will stretch from Gordon Street to Broomielaw and Union Street/Jamaica Street and Oswald Street/Hope Street – streets surrounding Central Station.  This ‘Zone’ is traditionally a focus for those trying to get late night transport out of the city and is also has numerous entertainment venues nearby.

The proposals to improve the environment for revellers include:

• Improved Street Lighting – the old high pressure sodium lights have been changed to white metal halide which improves human perception.
  
• First has produced 50,000 24 hour pocket guides detailing late night and over night bus services.  These services, if they take in Union Street or Hope Street, will stop at dedicated ‘Nite Zone’ bus stops.
  
• Strathclyde Police will be working with the Council’s Community Safety Patrol officers assisting the movement of people to transport departure points 
  
• Additional litter bins have been placed in the Zone and, where possible, graffiti and fly posting removed.
  
• During the three month pilot, work will be done to increase CCTV cameras, put in illuminated bus stop signs and help points.
  

Councillor Jim Coleman, Convener of the City Council’s Policy and Resources Sub Committee on Community Safety and Health said:  “We want people not just to have a good night out in Glasgow, but also have easy access to bus and taxi transport home.  We’ll be monitoring the use of the ‘Nite Zone’ to see if it makes leaving the city after a night out any easier in the area.  We want to If it works, we’d look to extending it to other parts of the city.”

Eric Stewart, Managing Director First in Glasgow said:  “We are delighted to be joining forces with Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and Glasgow Safer City Centre Programme to introduce the ‘Nite Zone’.

“We are committed to providing people with a safe, reliable and cost effective way of getting out and about 24 hours a day and the various community safety measures, introduced as part of the “Nite Zone” initiative, alongside the improved public information, will ensure that people out enjoying themselves, in the run up to Christmas, leave the city centre as quickly and safely as possible.”

Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent David Christie of Strathclyde Police for the city centre added:  "We are committed to working with our partner agencies to make Glasgow a safer place for everyone.  The ‘Nite Zone’ is an excellent example of partnership working and I am confident that it will be of great benefit to the night time economy in the city centre."

First operates eight 24 hour services, 9, 12, 40, 56, 57, 62, 66 and 75 operating every 15 minutes, Friday night to Saturday morning.  In addition services 18, 20, 36A, 38, 44, 61, 88, 240, 262, 263 operate at regular intervals, after midnight, at the weekends. To find out more about First services log on to www.firstgroup.com

To find out about the 24 hour First services call 0141 423 6600.

For information on Strathclyde Police click on www.strathclyde.police.uk