Lap Dancing in Ayr

Plans to open a pole dancing club in Ayr are set to go before council planners for the fourth time.

Businessman Forbes Robertson wants to offer the adult entertainment at his Millionayr club in River Street.

His plans have already been knocked back by council's licensing board twice before in July last year and January this year. And the entrepreneur withdrew his application from another meeting because he felt he wouldn't get a fair hearing.

Robertson wants to stage one off cabaret events with food, casino games and pole and burlesque dancers. I'm trying to offer something a bit different in the town, maybe its not everybody cup of tea but then they don't need to go.

Last time board chairman Douglas Campbell told him the application fell short of council guidelines. And the final say will rest with councillors on Thursday April 17.

Ayr Council chiefs stand accused of giving false information.

For Ayr businessman Forbes Robertson says they supplied him with an apparently bogus reason for turning down his lap dancing plan.

Robertson said: I've applied five times to the licensing board to have adult entertainment added to my entertainment licence for the Millionayr Casino in Ayr.

Each time I was turned down I was told the board was ‘awaiting guidelines' from the Scottish Government.

But now I have a letter from Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill saying the government has NO plans to produce new guidelines for adult entertainment.

And South Ayrshire Licensing Board has all along had the power to decide my application.

Robertson blasted: I feel misled by the board, and to add insult to injury, they won't even let me apply again.

Robertson's frustration at being constantly turned down led him to seek guidance from John Scott MSP. Scott was told in a letter from McAskill: The Scottish Government's position remains that it is for each local authority's licensing body to decide whether they wish adult entertainment to take place.

But Robertson has been consistently told by the licensing board that it was awaiting guidelines.

Robertson said: It appears they were just using that as an excuse.