Lap Dancing in Dundee

Businessman Jimmy Marr wants to change the use of Mangos Nightclub in Dundee into a lap dancing venue.

It is good to report that for once the local church is relaxed about the move.

The Rev Jeremy Auld of St Paul's Cathedral, a few hundred yards away, said he won't object to the venture, providing workers do not feel exploited. He told The Courier:

If this is an organisation that treats those who want to work in that environment in the right way then I am not going to stand against that. If it is something that people want to do then it's not for me to cast judgment on them.

But of course it was a very different message from women campaigners demanding an equally  miserable life for all.

Mary Miller from Dundee Women's Aid said:

It is not adult entertainment but violence against women which promotes inequality of women.

DWA is committed to tackling the inequality in society of women. We promote the rights of women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse and lap dancing is yet another form of violence against women in society.

The organisation claims lap dancing venues normalise men's sexual objectification of women as well as attract higher levels of crime.

A decision on the planning application is due to be made by November 28. If approved, the applicant will then seek approval from the licensing board.

A bid for a new lap dancing club in central Dundee has been thrown out by councillors over bollox fears it could increase crime in the area.

The application, by Stars Sports Bar, run by Jimmy Marr, wanted to change the use of Mangos Nightclub in the Seagate into a lap dancing venue.

Katherine Sharp of the nutter group Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership voiced her strong opposition to the undesirable development. She ludicrously claimed that the move would result in an over-provision of adult entertainment venues in the city and could create a problem with prostitution in the surrounding area. She said:

Lap dancing is harmful to the women involved. They are often verbally abused by men and propositioned for sex. Support of this application would be contrary to the council's duty to protect women and goes against its equality policy as it would support one gender over another.

The ready stock of alcohol at these clubs can make it very unsafe for women. Afterwards many men use public transport and cause problems to women on their way home.

Sharp also claimed that 'research' from other anti-commercial sex groups had shown crime, or fear of crime, increases in areas in which lap dancing clubs exist.

The council's director of city development, Mike Galloway, warned the committee that although a number of moral issues had been raised it was the duty of members to make a decision based only on planning considerations. He said the fear of increased crime, as mentioned by Ms Sharp, could be taken into account as this was not a moral issue but material consideration.

Maryfield councillor Ken Lynn moved to refuse the application on moral grounds anyway, saying that he viewed the plans with genuine distaste. He was seconded by Richard McCready, who again cited morality reasons: We have to consider the vision for our city centre and ask is this something that we want?

All councillors agreed to the motion that went against the recommendation made to them by city planners.