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!

You don't live in Ashtead by any chance???

I know lapin. I'm having a baaaad day.....

Apologies for my last post.

that report is more related to camden interpretation of regulation than anything else

did anyone watch the Dispatches tv thing on lapdancing clubs the other week?

v seedy and not nice places from what I could see

no idea if they are all like that, dh has been to one (stag do) and said it was all above board

I find them vomit inducing personally and know of friends that have had grief when walking past these places (3 so far in Manchester City Centre iirc)

maybe as the men have come to the bizarre conclusion that as they were in the vicinity they would also strip and gyrate on their lap?

I used to be a shoulder shrugger but find myself getting all huffy over them now

iirc councils cannot turn down the license, I may be wrong

Olive!!! Are you in Aus?

I think they are degrading. Not sure why that makes me such an awful person

you are right oliveoil, this is all about closing the loophole in the Licensing Act and giving some power back to the local authorities (who by and large actually welcome the additional rates income that these places bring in) to decide where it is and is not appropriate to have a club.

And anyone who thinks that none of these places have any connection to any increases in harassment, sexual assault, drugs, prostitution, crime, and trafficking, is not really in touch with reality...

god they're awful places. really lowest common denominator type stuff. will read the links

thanks southeastastra...

It was actually meant as a joke, but nevermind

(3 weeks!!! countdown has commenced)

on that dispatches program, there was a block of apartments and a license was approved for a cafe

it was a lapdancing place when it opened

now you can umm and arr and try to be "oh each to their own, it is all inside the building" all you want but would you want that underneath your balcony?

I think not

you come home after work and a load of loons are leering at you?

purlease

they are sex establishments and need an adult license or whatever the legal term is

i saw that Dispatches programme as well

there is a legal loophole which does need to be closed and the programme did highlight that

Exactly. And by lobbying your local MP, then perhaps the change in legislation can go through in a bill in November. That's all I'm asking.

If you think it's all fine the way it is, then don't lobby.

I have told dh I will think less of him if he goes to one again so he knows my views. It is up to him if he wants the Death Stare or not

I didn't used to be bothered, but recently have become v huffy and angry about them

Olive - where are you moving to in Oz?

Yes, they are degrading scumholes - defend them if you like but since they opened a whole load in Brighton its sleazeville (still miss the place though...). I'm so fed up with the arguement "Well, I've got it, so I might as well flaunt it - a make a whole load of cash at the same time". It basically flouncing your fanjita at a mans face OK?

Totally behind you orangina..

OO I happen to think that the BBC deliberately selected those clubs. I have worked in two lapdancing clubs and nither of them had 'backrooms'. Staff were instantly fired in one of them by mangement if they were found to meeting with customers outside of work. The managent of the other club were more lax on this rule but the girls who worked there were not and any dancer thought to be doing 'extras' were bullied made to feel unwelcome untill they left of their own accord as this would impact on the other girls earnings so they did not want them working alongside them.

FWIW its worth though I do think that there is a time and a place for everything and that lapdancing clubs do not need to be in residentail areas. However I don't think that they should be reclassifed as sexual encounter places as if they are run properly and within the limits of the law as many places are they are nothing of the sort.

The liscencing on them should be more stringently checked though to ensure that they adhering by the law.

i think too many of anything in one place is wrong betting shops, estate agents, restaurants

but apparently all enterprises actually are more successful when they clump together

brighton was built as sleaseville it always has been

Yes Zippi but as a born and bred brightonian I feel that the underground sleaziness was exciting - this is just plain old tits out for the lads stuff. Boring and degrading.
Now a burlesque club ...far more refined.

(perth)

I agree that the tv company (actually C4) would have selected those places with a view to editing them harshly, that is what tv does, sensationalise things

however, even if they are 'above board', I still find the places offensive

they are sexist

now when you mention burlesque

do you think we are all snobs? as I think of dita von teese and think style and erotic whereas Sharon from wherever as foul

same thing I suppose, clothes off

is one art?

Dita Von Teese or Shaz from Brighton both have the same effect on a man......

it's us woman who see one better than the other...

mehbe

I am becoming a campaigner in my old age

anyhoo, sorry orangina, have waylaid your thread

will bump later if you vanish off active