Please take a few minutes to help change legislation regarding lap dancing clubs....

[orangina]

I really don't want this to descend into a bun fight about whether lap dancing clubs are degrading or empowering to women, so I am prefacing this by saying THIS IS NOT A MORAL CRUSADE... This isn't about whether lap dancing clubs should or shouldn't have a place in our society, but more about asking you to help tighten a loophole in current legislation...

We are currently fighting an application locally for a lap dancing club to open in the local boozer, more or less bang in the middle of a residential area, next to the library and 100+ m from 2 primary schools and 2 nurseries. Lovely. The application consultation period is now over, and the public hearing for the application is scheduled for a few weeks time. We are hoping that the application will be turned down by the Council (900+ valid letters of objection raised), but are also certain that the Applicant will appeal.

Meanwhile, there are Government plans to reform existing legislation to give Local Authorities more power to reject these kinds of applications (which currently are about as easy to get through as a coffee shop or booze license). This could be pushed through as early as November if lobbying is successful. If it goes through then, then our chances at Appeal are greater.

So, please would you consider writing to your local MP to make sure that the changes to lap dancing bill is included in this November's Police Crime Reduction Bill? If we miss this Bill, the next opoportunity will not be until March 2009 at the earliest. This isn't just about not having a lap dancing club on our own doorstep, but given the spread of these establishments in inappropriate locations (residential areas, next to the library, etc...), ensuring that if an application is lodged with your own local Council, then you are in a position to be able to object and know it will actually carry some weight.

Here are a few useful links....

List of MPs here...

Model letter to send to MP here...

Some background to the shortcomings of current legislation here...

Every letter will count. Many thanks!

bump

The license application defines the hours they wish to keep and local residents can object to the proposed hours and/or the activity in question. In this case, the applicants have applied for it to be open 7 days a week, from 7pm to 2am (midnight on sundays). You are right, the club would not have punters or dancers spilling out of the doors and onto the toddlers visiting the nursery, but it would still be there, advertising etc. Also, there are existing drugs problems in the areas which would almost certainly be exacerbated by the arrival of this gentlemen's club (ha!), none of which is very good news.... Also, the club is directly at the "gateway" between the residential area in question and the local tube station, so anyone coming home at night would have to walk past the place. So it will be affecting all the commuting residents...

(in case you hadn't noticed, I am totally OBSESSED with this application and it is taking up all my (non existant) time...)

Just putting this on my thread so that I can do it later - I'll do a bit of bumping too. Good luck.

Thanks policywonk.... that would be great...

Given that you don't have to work there and you don't have to go in there this is a moral crusade. Men and women (adults) want to pursue a pastime that you don't approve of and you want the power to stop them.

You can decide not to be a lapdancer yourself and decide not to go in the places without forbidding others from making use of them.

onager, I said this wasn't a moral crusade but well done you for wading in anyway.

Did I say I didn't approve of this? No, I didn't. I am not on a one woman crusade to get rid of these establishments. I do however want to give the local authorities the power to turn down such applications if the location is deemed to be inappropriate. And my opinion (and it's only my opinion) is that bang in the middle of a residential neighbourhood is not a great location for a lap dancing club.

I dont think they have any place in small family orientated towns, if at all

lol exactly

it's not a moral crusade you just don't think it's right and only want to hear from people who agree with you.

Good luck with that on MN

Anyway be happy I have bumped it for you and now you may get hordes of supporters.

"This isn't about whether lap dancing clubs should or shouldn't have a place in our society"

Just not in your bcak yard then hey?

Our town has a lap dancing club, and yes there was opposition before it opened, but I can honestly say it has not caused any trouble for the town.

I am far more concerned aboout the hoodies who hang around on street corners drinking and the drug problem on the streets than a private lap dancing club that will charge an admission fee and charge a fortune for drinks.

but they dont do the lap dancing outside the venue..they do it inside

so i dont see it matters what part of town its in

"I dont think they have any place in small family orientated towns, if at all"

Why? Because family men never go to lap dancing clubs?

well we know your husband does love

well thank you onager....

my bf has been in them on stag nights i asked him last week

in iceland and some other place

i cant say it concerns me at all

Lilith report on effects of lapdancing clubs in Camden

Yes Filz, I soemtimes even go with him actually.

I am not trying to get them banned, I am not posting saying I disapprove and they shouldn't be allowed....

(deep breath)

I am just saying that in licensing terms, they should be counted as sex encounter establishments and not come under the same bracket as coffee shops.

(awaits wave of post feminist outrage)

I dont give a shit if it isnt helpful

policywonk, i was just looking for the lilith report... thanks for that...

Filz you sound like such a nice person....