Lap Dancing in Sutton Coldfield

Flints is a large wine bar in Sutton Coldfield.

The owner, Deidre O'Rourke, wants to turn the pub in to a members only adult club called Pussy Cats and serve drinks until 3am in suburban Mere Green.

The landlady claims upmarket dancing girls would attract wealthy footballers and businessmen and has rubbished claims that the club will be a brothel in disguise.

But nutters have predictably branded the plans seedy. Claire Hope said: It's completely wrong for a suburban street like Belwell Lane and completely wrong for Sutton. There is no shortage of lapdancing clubs in Birmingham. Regardless of how well it is run, people will feel threatened by groups of men going there late at night. The bar is on the school run.”

A few sgnatures have been collected on a 137 name petition.

Sutton Coldfield's nutter MP Andrew Mitchell has stated in a letter to residents: I am quite clear that Mere Green and Sutton Coldfield are not appropriate locations for this sort of activity.

Update: Protest

6th November 2008. Based on article from birminghammail.net

Around 50 campaigners gathered outside Flints in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, to raise awareness of the proposals.

Slogans on some of the placards being waved on Saturday included Sex in the city, not in the suburbs , Brothel in disguise and No to sleepless nights.

Birmingham City Council will decide on the application on November 26.

Update: Petition

25th November 2008. See article from thisissuttoncoldfield.co.uk

The case against turning Flints into an adult entertainment venue now includes:

• 120+ letters of objection.
• A 14 page petition.
• Strong opposition from Waitrose, Lloyds British and other local businesses.
• A blunder has resulted in official agenda papers stating West Midlands Police has 'no objections to the application'. However chief superintendent Russell Smith gave his reassurance the licensing committee would be left in no doubt of the police's strong objections.

Plans to open a strip club in Sutton Coldfield have been turned down because of the perception it would increase crime and seedy activity.

The bid by Flints wine bar in Belwell Lane, Mere Green, to re-brand itself as the Pussycats Gentlemen's Club was thrown out by the city council after more than 100 nutters sent letters objecting to increases in late night noise, crime and nuisance as well as the moral decline of the area.

Licensing committee chairman David Osborne said: The application is refused. We are particularly concerned at the increase in noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

In an attempt to appease protesters the licensee Deirdre O'Rourke, who has 35 years experience running pubs, offered to cut back closing times from the initial suggested 3.30am to 1am weekdays and 2am at weekends, in line with other Mere Green nightspots.

But it was a late change of heart by local police, who at first had no formal objections, which swung the three-strong licensing committee against the introduction of nude dancing in Mere Green.

Sutton Coldfield police inspector Tom Hadley told the committee that whether or not crime would in reality increase was not the issue. He argued there was a widely held perception among locals that seedy activities such as prostitution, drug dealing and alcohol-fuelled disorder would soar. We not only measure reported crime, but also how safe people feel, and community harmony. It's about reassurance, trust and confidence I believe that as a direct result of this application people in the area are more fearful of crime and more fearful of going out after dark.

He recognised that there were initially no objections from his licensing officers, who had worked with Mrs O'Rourke to ensure it would be a well-run and discreet club. But added that the public reaction in recent weeks had persuaded him it would be a bad idea.

But retired police officer Sid Wood, speaking on behalf of Mrs O'Rourke, had argued that the club would cause less nuisance than the existing Flints wine bar. He said: At the moment people drink outside, there is music playing all even-ing. Under the new licence this would stop at 8pm. The only activity outside would be the occasional smoker.

Following the committee's decision he said that it was ‘likely' they would appeal against the decision. An appeal would be heard by magistrates.

It is timely to recall senior police evidence presented at a Commons culture committee investigation into lap dancing:

Chief Inspector Adrian Studd, of the Metropolitan Police, said local residents often wanted officers to take action on moral grounds. He told the Commons culture committee such clubs were usually well-run and had a high staff ratio to customers. Often people look for a moral decision, which is sometimes very difficult for police and local authorities to make .

It is true to say there is no evidence they cause any crime and disorder, or very rarely, because they tend to be fairly well-run, they tend to have a fairly high staff ratio to customers, the people who tend to go there tend to be a bit older, so they don't tend to drink so excessively and cause... problems outside.