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Strippers win the day as a miserable proposal to ban lap dancing clubs is voted down
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29th July 2022
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| See soft paywalled article from telegraph.co.uk |
For years campaigners, including Labour councillors, police and feminist groups, - have urged Bristol Council to ban strip clubs. The only problem for this miserable coalition was that the strippers themselves wanted to carry on stripping to earn a
living. Adult performers were celebrating on Thursday after persuading a majority of the city's council to reject the proposed ban on strip clubs and other sex entertainment venues. One self-described exotic dancer told the council's licensing
committee: Stripping has allowed me to have a flexible enough schedule to pursue my dream career while simultaneously enabling me to live a comfortable life - not living in constant stress due to living from paycheck to
paycheck.
Such was the strength of feeling among the female dancers and performers that Guy Poultney, a Green Party councillor, received a round of applause when he accused women's rights groups of arguing that we should discount the
voices of some women in order to empower them and to restrict their choices in the name of equality and take away their jobs for their own good. He also said they were acting as if some women can't be trusted to make choices for themselves.
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A new licence for lap dancing in Venom, Westbury
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15th October 2021
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| See article from thisiswiltshire.co.uk
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A Westbury night spot will be allowed to stage more strip shows after winning a sexual entertainment licence. A director of Comus Leisure, which owns Venom, said it needed to run more events because it had been hit hard by the pandemic and months of
lockdown. He told Wiltshire Council's licensing panel: We just need to do these events more frequently because my venue was closed for 18 months and costs £20,000 per month to run. We've got to do more of everything to
survive.
Under the licence the club on Quartermaster Road, West Wilts Trading Estate will be allowed to host events with lap dancing, stage strip teases and strip shows with full nudity. No objections from the public were sent in to
Wiltshire Council during the consultation period for the bid. |
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Strippers comment on the sexist Bristol City Council which celebrates gay sexual entertainment whilst condemning straight sexual entertainment
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11th June 2021
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| See article from independent.co.uk
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Strippers have accused Bristol City Council and feminist campaigners of sexist double standards for trying to ban women performing but allowing men to go ahead. Dreamboys, an all-male collective that has spoken out in support of female strippers, is
scheduled to appear at Pryzm nightclub in Bristol. The performance comes as local MPs seek to shut down all lap dancing clubs in Bristol by changing their licensing rules - with the council currently contemplating a ban on the venues. Tuesday
Laveau, who is based in Bristol and has been stripping for 16 years, told The Independent: One of the fundamental arguments of anti-sex worker feminists is strippers and sex workers are tools of the patriarchy.
But they have no problem choosing what men do with their body. We are not mad at the Dream Boys. They are just working. The point is the double standards of local MPs and Avon and Somerset's police
commissioner. They have no issue with men behaving sexually provocatively for money.
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Bristol's mayor and police commissioner seek to get lap dancing banned
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| 10th March 2021
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| 1st March 2021. See article from bristolpost.co.uk
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Bristol City Council, Bristol's mayor and the Avon & Somerset police commissioner are all uniting in a proposal to ban lap dancing in Bristol. Councillors will be asked to approve a new draft policy that would ban lap dancing venues from operating
anywhere in Bristol. The proposed ban, which would go out to a 12-week public consultation, appears in an appendix of an item to be considered by the licensing committee on Monday, March 8. It seems heartless to ban workers in a sector that has
been forced to close during the last year due to coronavirus lock downs. Especially as surveys show most Bristolians are happy with them as long as they are away from certain areas, including schools , housing estates, parks, women's refuges and places
of worship. The prominent proponents of the mean minded proposal are Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, Avon & Somerset police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire . If the policy is adopted by the
council, both of the existing venues -- sister venues Urban Tiger and Central Chambers -- would be forced to close. At the two clubs' annual licence renewal hearings in 2019, pole-dancers said they were feminists also and had a right to choose how they
earned a living. The draft policy also includes the licensing of sex shops but no there no plans to change the current maximum of two each in both the city centre and Old Market/West Street and zero in other areas. Update: Bristol Council takes the next step to banning lap dancing
10th March 2021. See article from thebristolcable.org Passions ran high as councillors
voted narrowly to send a proposed ban on lap-dancing clubs in Bristol out to public consultation. Licensing committee members voted 7-6, with one abstention, on Monday (March 8) to ask residents and interest groups what they thought of a new draft
policy setting the maximum number of sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) to zero. But the decision, which could force the closure of the city's two city centre SEVs Urban Tiger and Central Chambers and put hundreds of mostly female jobs at risk, was
described as monstrous and pandering to the views of women's rights activists on moral grounds. |
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| 8th
February 2019
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A Bristol Council report on a public consultation reveals support for lap dancing. This is deemed the wrong answer by feminists and so the report must be amended. See
article from bristolpost.co.uk |
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| 9th May 2016
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Marvin Rees has been elected as Mayor of Bristol on the ticket of destroying the livelihoods of people working in the lap dancing trade See
article from strippingtheillusion.blogspot.com |
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Killjoys whinge about St Trinians Night events at Bristol strip club
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19th April 2015
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| See article from
metro.co.uk |
A strip club has been banned from using images of women dressed up as schoolgirls after miserable claims that the images somehow sexualise children . Urban Tiger, a strip club in Bristol, promoted their St Trinian's style evening by
using dancers dressed in white shirts, short tartan skirts and high boots intended to look like school uniforms. Another similar image was posted to the club's Facebook page, asking punters: Like women in school uniform? Come along tonight.
Roz Hardie of the moralist campaign group Object whinged: If you've got the sexualisation of children through adverts it does help to create the context where schoolchildren are being seen as sexual objects.
Urban Tiger's licence has now been altered to state: Relevant entertainment shall not include any word, action or imagery that endorses or depicts, or might reasonably be taken as endorsing or
depicting, or be promoted as including, any conduct which, if taking place in reality, would amount to a criminal offence.
Killjoy Sally Lewis, from the Independent Chair of Bristol Children's safeguarding Board, said this is an issue
that may never have been thought about before , and that they want to raise awareness . She spewed: We aren't trying to be killjoys or ruin anyone's fun. I don't think films like St Trinian's should be
banned or anything. We have to look at this in context, she added. ...[BUT]... I can't think why any right-minded person would think this was appropriate.
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Bristol lap dancing club fined for providing lap dancing
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| 22nd
August 2013
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| See article from
thisisbristol.co.uk
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Lap dancers at a Bristol club have been giving customers more fun than the miserable council allowed. One performer has been suspended and two have been reprimanded by bosses for kissing and other physical contact. Magistrates fined the venue
around £16,500 for five licensing breaches. Temptations' manager Valerie Hoare was also ordered to pay £1,550 for two breaches. Bristol Magistrates Court heard how CCTV from Temptations examined after an unannounced visit from
licensing staff in January showed three dancers getting closer than the council allowed in the private booths . Bristol's Sexual Entertainment Venue licence states that customers and performers are not allowed to touch each other during a
performance. But the prosecution said: The footage from all three cameras showed extensive and repeated contact between customers and performers. The court heard this included one stripper holding a customer's face and giving him a kiss while he
had his hands on her buttocks. Other footage showed a dancer sitting on a customer's lap, while in another booth a performer touched a man's leg with hers. Recommended by Nutters A handful of Bristol miserablists have raised a
petition calling for the closure of Bristol's two table dancing clubs and its only lap dancing club at Temptations. The petitioners are recommending:
- Central Chambers 9 St Stephen's St, Bristol BS1 1EE
- Urban Tiger 4 Broad Quay, Bristol BS1 4DA
- Temptations T3 46 West St, Bristol BS2 0BH
Offsite: Counter petition 7th September 2013. See article from
southwestbusiness.co.uk Update: Counter petition outstrips nutter petition 11th September 2013. See
article from
southwestbusiness.co.uk As of yesterday afternoon, the nutter petition had 166 signatures, but in only four days the pro lap dancing one had already garnered support
from 271 people. Carrie Hale's online petition went live on Friday in response to one started last month. It reads: This petition calls that Bristol City Council allow lap dancing clubs, gentlemen's clubs, strip
clubs and pole dancing clubs, otherwise known as SEVs, to operate in Bristol. The licensing policy has already been implemented and decided that the suitable number of SEVs in Bristol was three, with two other venues being forced
to close to reduce numbers. There is huge demand for these venues, otherwise they would not exist and they do not only cater for men. The women and men that work in these venues are not exploited, neither
are they forced to work in such venues. The people of Bristol should have a choice to visit such establishments and by having a nil cap this choice will be taken away.
The petition runs until January 22 and can
be signed at epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/2386 . Update: Licence Granted
18th September 2013. See article from
sevlicensing.wordpress.com 9 objections from the public were received about the renewal of a licence of Central Chambers. It has been reported that this was renewed
yesterday (16th Sept) with some fairly colourful language apparently used by a campaigner to describe the head of the three-strong licensing committee. Feminist campaigner Bristol_Jane was live tweeting yesterday's hearing at City Hall,
during which she called Conservative group leader Peter Abraham a sexist, misogynistic fuckface . The offending tweet has now been removed. |
9th September
2010 | |
| Lap dancing planning appeal rejected for 'not building a positive and attractive image'
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Based on article from
thisisbristol.co.uk
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The planning appeal for a new lap dancing club in Bristol's Old Market has been dismissed. The club was proposed by businessman Essie Zadeh at 42-44 West Street, but was rejected by the city council's planning committee last December. The
empty premises would have been made into a licensed café during the day and a lap dancing club at night. But the councillors agreed 5-2 to refuse on the grounds the plan failed to contribute to the vitality of Old Market and contribute to
its regeneration. There was an appeal against that decision, but that has now been rejected by planning inspector Jill Kingaby. She said: There is clearly a high level of local opposition to the current proposal for a lap dancing club.
It seems to me that the proposal would not contribute to building a positive and attractive image introducing uses of general public interest or service to West Street as sought in saved Local Plan Policies CC1 and S6. Labour councillor for
the Lawrence Hill ward, Brenda Hugill, said: This is a victory for common sense. We must not let this area descend in a Soho sex industry ghetto, especially now that families are moving into the area. She added: We must keep fighting to keep
the area safe for all.
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17th December
2009 | |
| Nutters oppose lap dancing in Bristol
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Based on article
from thisisbristol.co.uk
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Nutters in Bristol's Old Market have launched a campaign to stop permission being given for a lap dancing club in West Street. They have signed a petition to object against planning consent for the premises near the corner with Waterloo Street.
Councillors will decide at a planning committee on Tuesday whether to give permission. Resident Janet Sheek said: It's wholly inappropriate to have a lap dancing club in a residential area and in a high street. If the city council wants
this, then they should provide an entertainment park somewhere else where people would have to drive to and drive away from. There are a lot of families that live around here now and parents should not have to explain to children, who would have to walk
past this place on their way to school, what goes on inside. How can you expect anyone to pop out for a pint of milk at night when horny and intoxicated young men are roaming around on the street. It's wrong. Ches Chesney, secretary of the Old
Market Community Association, said the number of people living in the area had more than doubled in the past eight years. It's a residential area and should be considered in those terms, he said. His petition currently has about 300 names. Campaigner Trish Davidson, founder of the website Unchosen which fights human trafficking, said lap dancing clubs should be illegal. She said:
How can we get across to young men on stag dos and businessmen that this is not a good way to entertain themselves and that women suffer from their growing need to go to these clubs. Without demand, there would be no successful clubs. The
application, by Essie Zadeh, who is understood to run The Olive Tree bar at 90 West Street, is for a change of use to turn the former shop at 42-44 West Street, into a restaurant and wine bar by day and a lap dancing club at night. Planning
officers are recommending approval and say in a report to councillors that the application meets with planning guidelines. They said licensing laws, not planning regulations, deal with public safety, prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance,
and protection of children. The report says: The licensing process allows for a raft of additional, far more detailed conditions to be attached that regulate such drinking and entertainment activities on an ongoing basis until the licence is
rescinded. Zadeh said he saw no harm in setting up the lap dancing club. There are 52 empty shops in the street at the moment. This will help to improve its prosperity. It's a commercial street, not residential.
Update: Refused on Moral Grounds Based on
article from
thisisbristol.co.uk Plans for the lap dancing club were turned down. The decision by councillors to refuse consent came after an astonishing turn of events at a
planning committee meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, the chairman, Councillor Alex Woodman (Lib Dem, Cabot) had spelt out to the campaigners that the application could not be refused on moral grounds – they could only consider the planning
issues. Planning officers told the committee there were no planning policy grounds to refuse permission. But as the debate wore on, it emerged councillors were against the plan and their only difficulty was to find the grounds to turn it down.
The chairman moved refusal, saying: I would rather this go to appeal and tested rather than simply nodding it through. The councillors agreed by 5-2 votes to refuse on the bollox grounds that the plan failed to contribute to the vitality of Old
Market and contribute to its regeneration. The applicant, Old Market businessman Essie Zadeh who runs the Olive Tree mediterranean bar in West Street and who attended the meeting said afterwards he would definitely appeal the decision. The
appeal might take some months to complete by which time a new Crime Bill is likely to have been passed which will give local authorities tougher powers over lap-dancing clubs.
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26th July
2009 | |
| Lap dancing winds up the Somerset locals in Frome
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4th July 2009. From thisissomerset.co.uk
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Plans to add some extra spice to a former curry house in Frome have angered nutters in the town.
The owner Abdul Rahim has submitted the licence application asking for permission to serve alcohol until 1.30am seven nights a week, play both
live and recorded music, host lap dancing and strip nights and show adult films.
This has prompted dozens of residents and organisations to write to Mendip District Council, which will decide whether or not to issue the licence, to voice their
concerns.
Chairman of the Blue House trustees Brenda Hinton said she was very concerned that the establishment may attract unsuitable people to the area.
She added: I have submitted a comment to the board saying I was concerned about
the fact that it is to stay open until 2am, and what the noise impact would have on the sheltered housing residents. I also feel it is not in keeping with the area.
Frome's Mayor, Cllr Damon Hooton, who is also chairman of the Frome Town
Council planning board, said the board felt compelled to make a comment to the licensing authority after residents contacted the council with concerns: There is no demonstrable need for a private members' club of the type proposed in Frome. We
consider that this type of establishment in the centre of Frome would detract from the town centre and would be likely to have an adverse impact of properties near to it.
Mendip's licensing committee will discuss the application on Thursday,
July 16, at 10am at Mendip District Council's offices in Shepton Mallet. Update: Decoy? 26th July 2009. From thisissomerset.co.uk A licensing application
to spice up Frome's nightlife with erotic entertainment at a private members' club has been withdrawn at the eleventh hour.
The revelation came to light minutes before the licensing board meeting at Mendip District Council was about to begin.
The applicant, Abdul Rahim, who owns the club on the Bridge, decided to scrap the parts of the licence which related to lap dancing, stripping and other forms of adult entertainment after there was public outrage at the plans.
Rahim was
represented by solicitor John Killah, who told the licensing committee that his client had been mortified by the outcry over the application and had listened to the concerns of the people who had objected to the licence.
Killah asked for the
hearing to be deferred so that Rahim could reassess the application.
There had been more than 20 objections, with the majority of people citing problems of anti-social behaviour, the type of club that was being suggested and that children walk
past the premises on their way to school as the major issues.
The licensing board will hear the revised application on Tuesday, August 11, at 11am.
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22nd May
2009 | |
| Having a whinge at lap dancing in Bristol
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From thisisbristol.co.uk
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A property developer is hoping to open a new lap dancing club in West Street in Bristol's Old Market area. He is now waiting for planning permission from Bristol City Council before he can open it up to customers.
But the move has been
predictably criticised by nutters who believe massage parlours, lap dancing clubs and adult film shops drag Old Market down and discourage visitors.
However, Mr Zadeh, who owns four shops and several flats in Old Market, believes the venue would
attract wealthy people to the area. He insists his club would provide a big boost to the local economy during the recession by creating jobs for door staff, bar staff, managers and lap dancers.
And with 54 shops standing empty in the Old Market
area, Zadeh reckons any business expressing an interest in trading in the area should be welcomed with open arms.
A group called Old Market Residents' and Traders' Association was set up earlier this month with the aim of giving the area a
facelift with improved street furniture, new bins and flowers, and, of course, to have a whinge at adult businesses.
Zadeh believes more trouble is caused by customers at nightclubs and bars offering cheap alcohol than at lap dancing clubs: Lap dancing clubs attract businessmen, not noisy people. It's dancing and art and there is no physical contact between the dancers and the customers. There will be at least 80 CCTV cameras in operation in the club as well as bouncers, so it will be a safe place. There will be no cheap drinks and the people who visit will be people who can afford it and these are not the sort of people who will create trouble.
Update: Resubmitted Proposals 24th September 2009. From thisisbristol.co.uk A campaign group is calling on residents to object to plans for another lap
dancing club in Old Market. Proposals have been submitted to Bristol City Council to convert the former Ghana Goods shop in West Street, which is next to an existing lap dancing club. The previous application was withdrawn after the planning
officer indicated that it would be rejected on the grounds of loss of residential space. The new application has added extra residential space in the roof. Update: Meanwhile at
Temptations 19th October 2009. From thisisbristol.co.uk A club in Bristol has been allowed to have lap dancing for up to 19 hours a day. Temptations, on the corner of West Street and Waterloo Street in Old Market, can only allow a
maximum of 100 people inside the premises when lap dancing takes place. In addition, the club must provide door supervisors whenever the dancers are performing. Councillors agreed a renewal of licence for the club despite objections from local
nutters. Kerry Barker, for the club, said the application was simply to renew the licence which had already been in place. He said there was no evidence that the club, which previously operated under the former owners as Club Creme, caused any
problems. He added that there were no objections from any of the authorities, including the police. Chairman Councillor Alex Woodman (Lib Dem, Cabot) said they had to make a decision within licensing laws, not on moral or ethical grounds.
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