 Magistrates
have upheld an appeal against the granting of a licence permitting lap
dancing three nights a week at the Loft nightclub, in Durham City.
The licensing appeal panel backed residents and other opponents of what
some termed "a strip club" at the North Road premises.
Panel chairman Glynn Wales said it would aggravate rather than
alleviate late night disorder in the area.
The panel agreed that Durham City Council, whose licensing committee
granted initial approval, should meet the appellants' costs of £2,795.
Among opponents of lap dancing at the club was Durham MP Roberta
Blackman-Woods who said it was "totally unsuitable" near the city's
World Heritage sites. She described the appeal outcome as a victory
for local people who stood up for what they believed was right.
She criticised the city's Liberal Democrat-led council over its original
ruling: Durham City Council needs to now accept it had the ability
and duty to say 'no' to this club opening and, once again, got it wrong.
She called on the council to "look carefully" at how it came to its
decision.
Durham City Council said "morality" appeared to be the major concern at
the original hearing.A council statement yesterday said: Table
dancing is not an illegal activity and therefore cannot be refused just
because of what it is. There was insufficient evidence given at
the initial hearing and the professional bodies did not, and still do
not, object to this application, and, they are the very people the panel
must consider of importance in looking at such applications, as well as
taking into account the concerns of the public.
Nightclub owner Vimac Leisure has yet to comment on the appeal decision.
Opponents had previously made s silent protest against the
planned venue. About 80 people met in Durham City's Market Place to
demonstrate against the plans. The protest was timed to coincide with
the start of then appeal.
Update:
New Lap Dancing Policy
24th December 2007
Durham City Council has published a draft new licensing policy.
Councillor Sue Pitts, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said:
It doesn't alter the legal position in terms of The Loft one bit, which
will sadden people I think, because we would have liked to have been
protected from that type of application.
The new policy says each application would be considered on its merits,
but lap dancing would only be allowed:
- Where it cannot be seen from the street
- In a designated area away from a club's main room
- Where dancers can reach a dressing room without passing through
the audience.
The licensing policy was drawn up following a three-month consultation,
which ended in October.
|
A
morality campaign to block a lap dancing club from operating in Consett has
been revived.
