Lap Dancing in Portsmouth

Portsmouth Council have proposed a repressive policy which could lead to all of Portsmouth's lap dancing clubs being closed down.

According the draft policy there will be no place within the City of Portsmouth where it is appropriate for sex establishments to trade; this includes lap dancing clubs, sex shops and sex cinemas.

The proposal is now open for a six-week consultation. To share your views email licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk by April 12.

Businessman Paul Ojla, who runs Wiggle, in Surrey Street, and Elegance, in Granada Road, said he couldn't believe his eyes when he read the proposal being put forward by the city council. He said:

My licences are already reviewed every year and if I break the rules they could close me down. But this policy says because Portsmouth is so densely populated, and you are always within three miles of a church or school, there is nowhere in the city that is suitable for us, which is taking it way too far.

We don't get the trouble they have at other clubs in any shape or form.

We will be fighting this policy all the way to the court of human rights if necessary.

The issue split the council's licensing committee, with several councillors claiming the policy was unfair and could lead to a the closure of law-abiding establishments that have done nothing wrong.

Conservative Cllr Lee Mason voted against the draft policy and said:

This is not a fair consultation because we are saying we should have none, regardless of what people think.

The whole thing is totally unfair. It is people forcing their Victorian morality on others and trying to create a new kind of puritan society.

I think the long-term aim of some Lib Dem councillors is to put all the clubs out of business.

But the Lib Dem chairman of the council's licensing committee, Cllr Les Stevens, said the existing clubs would not be forced to close down.

Prudish Councillor Lynne Stagg said:

I wouldn't have any of those places anywhere. Not because I'm a prude ...BUT... because they are demeaning to women. It was the right decision to make. But I do think we should leave the ones that are there already.

A group on social networking site Facebook -- called Save the Stripclubs of Portsmouth -- has attracted nearly 1,000 members, while Solent Feminist Network spoke out in favour of the repressive policy at the meeting.

Portsmouth city council is planning on introducing a nil cap on lap-dancing venues in the city. This means not only will new clubs be unable to open, but the existing clubs will be at considerable risk to close their doors. It is being argued that there is no location suitable for this type of establishment in the Portsmouth area.

Portsmouth currently has three lap dancing venues: Elegance, Heaven Sent and Wiggle which employ over 100 jobs.

...Sign the petition now to save jobs!

Why We Should Save Our Strip Clubs

There is, of course, questionable morals regarding lap dancing clubs even in today's modern society however it is becoming more socially accepted amongst society that there is a supply and demand for such entertainment venues. However the greatest concern about the closure of our lap dancing clubs within Portsmouth is the loss of about 100 jobs to those people who work within the venues, we aren't just talking about the dancers but we are also talking about the bar staff, doorman, cleaners, managers and even the toilet attendants!

We are living in an age where unemployment is so high that even those with degrees, which cost them considerable debt, are unable to find employment. It is greatly irresponsible of the Portsmouth City Council to put at risk a large number of hard working and talented individuals at such a time of uncertainty for so many.

Within the city of Portsmouth there no evidence of any threat to women as a result of these lap dancing clubs however nationally, and as studies have shown, there is a lack of guidelines of performer safety in some clubs (not specifically any within Portsmouth). It is these issues the council should be focusing on rather than the moral or appropriateness of such venues.

The lap dancing clubs in Portsmouth are some of the safest night time venues you can attend and there has been little to no trouble involving the police since they have been open for the last 12 years.

Portsmouth's four lap-dancing clubs will not be closed down, but the city's council has said no more licences will be granted for similar venues.

Councillors met to decide whether to ban lap dancing and consider the results of a public consultation on the topic.

The consultation attracted 3,425 responses - 1,672 of which were from outside the city. The council said 97% of all the respondents were against a total ban on the clubs.

They council voted to keep the status quo but to ban any further clubs.

Lap-dancers, bouncers, bar staff and other workers has protested outside Portsmouth Guildhall before the meeting. They waved banners saying Save our jobs and Listen to our voice, it's our choice . 'Better money'

Councillor Terry Hall, who wanted a total ban, spewed:

I don't think Portsmouth is the right place because we're a very densely populated city.

There's nowhere in the city that isn't close to a church or a mosque or a school or residential area and I don't think this is the right place for them.

Perhaps they should knock down a few churches then, there doesn't seem much call for them these days.

Offsite: Further Details and Insight

17th October 2012. See article from strippingtheillusion.blogspot.com

One of the most heartening results from the meeting in Portsmouth was when Solent Feminist Network tried to use their well worn the girls are exploited, traumatised and don't know what they are doing angle, they were firmly slapped down by the Council. Councillor Les Stevens said as follows...

We listened to well-thought out, eloquent arguments from both sides who were for and against changes to policy.

Our decision was to agree a policy where the number of current sex establishments premises were sufficient for the city and when considering any new applications there would have to be very persuasive argument to agree to any more. We took our lead from public consultation which was overwhelming in its response against adopting a nil policy.

We listened to people working in these venues and felt that the current sex establishments have not caused a rise in crime in the area. We noted the women working there did so by choice and were extremely well looked after and adopting a nil policy would put jobs at risk.

...Read the full article at the always excellent Stripping the Illusion Blog