Victory for residents: lapdancing licence turned down

I was absolutely delighted to see that the licensing application for a lapdancing club on North End Crescent was unanimously rejected by the local council’s panel last Thursday night.

In a packed meeting, resident after resident rose to give their objections to the club. All were eloquent, passionate and from the heart. The licence applicant sat in stony silence as the avalanche of protest swept over him. Earlier, he had sheepishly admitted (under the panel’s questioning) that there were major errors and omissions from his licensing application.

Local residents in the Avonmore area aren’t prudes. However, they do think – rightly – that having a strip club in the centre of a peaceful residential area, and right next to schools and a library, with have a severe detrimental effect on the quality of life of everyone around.

The potential for public nuisance, for increased danger to all around (especially vulnerable residents, and those venturing out at night), and for harm to children living in the area made a compelling case, and the council’s licensing panel had no trouble at all in reaching a unanimous decision to reject the application.

This isn’t over, however. Two new battles for the residents of Avonmore are ahead.

First, it seems almost certain that the applicant will appeal to the magistrates’ court against the decision to reject his application. Whilst it is his right to do so, we must all be prepared to continue the fight and win at appeal as handily as we won last week.

Secondly, as I pointed out in my evidence to the hearing last night, the debacle over The Fox has shown up a major flaw in the licensing of lapdancing and strip clubs. Along with over a hundred other MPs, I have signed a motion calling for lapdancing clubs to be classed as part of the commercial sex industry, and give councils more power to reject them.

The Home Secretary has indicated that the government is considering this seriously, and it looks like a bill will be brought before Parliament in the next session. I hope all residents who have opposed this club will continue the fight, and help me ensure that this cannot happen again.