Lap Dancing in Newcastle

Nutters against a planned lap-dancing club in Newcastle's gay quarter are celebrating victory.

Members of the city's gay community fought Trafalgar Leisure's application to turn an empty warehouse on Marlborough Crescent into a bar and lap-dancing venue.

City council officers granted planning permission for the club, despite receiving 16 letters of objection.

A Save Our Scene group set up on social networking site Facebook attracted more than 150 members and a protest website was also set up. Protesters claimed opening a strip club would damage the reputation of the area, popular with the city's gay community, as a safe place to party.

Now Trafalgar Leisure has said that due to the level of opposition the company will not pursue the idea of a lap-dancing club and will instead apply for a licence to run the premises as a bar.

Westgate councillor Nick Forbes, who campaigned against the plans, said: I'm delighted he has decided to reconsider. It shows he has been willing to listen to the community and think of alternative plans. I'm very grateful to everyone who put forward their views and I think it shows what we can achieve as a community if we work together.

Trafalgar Leisure has applied for planning permission to turn an empty warehouse on Marlborough Crescent in the Newcastle city centre into a bar and lap-dancing venue.

The premises are close to several bars popular with the gay community.

Ward councillor Nick Forbes said he was planning to object to the latest application and would rule himself out of any debate as one of the members of the council's development control committee so that his objection could be made.

He said: My concern is that it would have a big negative impact on the gay village and I'm concerned that it would destroy the concept of a safe area by introducing all sorts of undesirables.

People in the area have until May 17 to make comments on the application, which will be considered by city council planners.

One resident has also raised concerns that families on their way to the Metro Radio Arena may have to walk past the club.