BOURNEMOUTH'S newest MP has taken up the idea of imposing a levy on town centre pubs and clubs to help with the cost of policing.

Tobias Ellwood, who represents Bournemouth East, used his maiden speech in the House of Commons to voice his fears over the lack of council control over the large number of bars.

And he also took the opportunity to plead for extra funding for cash-strapped Bournemouth schools and for AFC Bournemouth.

He said: "I am not saying that we should not have any pubs or clubs - far from it - but the local council needs to have more control over how the character of the town develops.

"Pubs and clubs generally lead to the development of a yob culture and the drinking that occurs on Friday and Saturday nights and I am afraid that Bournemouth is no exception.

"On a Friday night, half the police are forced to focus on the quarter of a square mile where all the nightclubs are based."

He said the idea of a levy was not new and cited the example of football matches, where a proportion of the money raised by ticket sales was used to pay for extra policing.

"That idea could be explored for Bournemouth and I would very much welcome the opportunity to work with the council in order to pursue this," he added.

Calls for the council to consider imposing a small admission charge at pubs and clubs to pay for extra police were made by independent councillor Ron Whittaker last year but were not taken up by the ruling Liberal Democrats.

Mr Ellwood also highlighted the financial plight of the Cherries, currently struggling with an estimated debt of £4.3 million, and many of the town's schools.

He said AFC Bournemouth was a "focal point" for sporting and community activities and deserved more financial support.

"Like other non-premiership clubs, the club's sporting successes are unfortunately marred by the financial constraints that it faces.

"Clubs such as AFC Bournemouth now look to the FA Cup almost as a mini-lottery, hoping to be drawn against a Premier League club simply to balance the books.

"If we are ever to win a World Cup again, we must invest in home-grown talent and ensure that we support non-premiership clubs like AFC Bournemouth, especially as they play such an active role in our communities."

First published: May 23