Lap Dancing clubs re-visited
If anyone has logged onto this story hoping for salacious stories of councillors making a site-visit to Consett’s lap-dancing club they will be disappointed.
In a low-key debate councillors considered a request from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for views on the subject. In my view we came up with entirely reasonable recommendations that the Licensing Act 2003 be amended to:
- Allow greater regard to public opinon and allow a more flexible interpretation of the “in the vicinity” rule which ruled out contributions from many interested parties when the issue arose previously.
- Provide more specific criteria with regard to the siting of premises close to schools, churches, community and youth centres.
There was no great moral outcry or dramatic gesture politics, however.
Whilst I felt at the time of the application made two years ago that it was carelessly put together, and should have been subjected to more rigorous conditions, I have to admit that I have not been aware of particular disturbances or anti-social behaviour arising from the establishment. That being the case, I don’t see it as my, or the council’s, duty to be more heavy handed towards one person’s taste than towards another. That’s why I was happy to vote the same way as everyone in the council chamber - an unusual degree of unanimity.
As always, I’d be interested in hearing your views.
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