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!

I think burlesque is completely different....

Ahh - I'm a Sydney girl!
They don't parade themselves in the same way in burlesque clubs. I don't think its snobby to say that. Womens bodies are beautiful but its the SLEAZE I can't bare. I get the feeling that burlesque dancers are incredibly empowered women who do it a lot of the time for very little money. (Bar Ms Von Teese of course)

The problem is that the Councils don't get involved in regulating the places. Self regulation is the name of the game. I'm sure some are all above board, no sex encounters etc, but there are others that are anything but. Once the license is in place, they have it for life, and it is incredibly difficult to get the license reviewed.

Don't worry OO, thanks for your input! Have sent you CAT...

ooooh exciting

they frown on hotmail at work though so can't access yet

(fears level of let down to be experienced by oo upon receipt of CAT...)

excuse me
stop dissing Brighton, it is a lovely place to live

yes 2shoes but we all know you are a lapdancer in your spare time

i am 2shoes son:

LEAVE BRIGTON ALONE! IT'S AN AWSOME PLACE TO LIVE!!!

....

BYE NOWS!!

2shoes I agree - I miss it terribly

I got a flier for a pole dancing fitness club today. Wonder if you can get a lapdancing workout too without jiggling the boobages?

filz are you jealous as they will pay me and you have to give it away?

We lived near a lapdancing club and would have to walk past it everyday. There were placards outside all day of semiclad women thrusting their bits. When we had dd I decided we had to move before she was old enough to start asking what it was all about. Thankfully we have (only down the road, mind). I also felt extremely nervous walking past at night on my way home. I'm sure most the men were law abiding citizens but it is very unnerving walking past a load of men who you know are sexually aroused. I am against them per se but think they should definitely be licensed as sexual establishments and not be in residential areas. At least bloody brothels don't have placards!

that's really interesting to hear ohIdoliketobebesidethe... the fear of walking in your own neighbourhood is just hideous...

I really need to collect statements from people who have direct experience of living near lap dancing clubs... if anyone would be prepared to help me out on that one, I'd be so grateful. I can be emailed at stop dot the dot fox dot club at googlemail dot com. Or CAT me.

(bump)

...

La la la xx

any I have seen have very subtle advertising, I was in one a few months ago playing pool, because the other pub didn't have a table, wasn't the prettiest of pubs but they were all human. No dancing while we were in, restricted hours, I was didapointed as I wanted to see what it was all about, purely for reasearch purposes only. I would much rather a club than ladies on the street.

Zippi, the report's not just about Camden's interpretation. It has quite a lot about the impact on residents too (noise pollution, crime, antisocial behaviour and sexual violence).

How about working with them to get agreements on types and styles of advertising, as it is in a residential area not a red light district where more full on advertising may be more appropriate.

The problem with what we are trying to do, is that it is very difficult to put a case for what might happen, in relation to something that doesn't yet exist (ie, this club). So these sort of stats from places like Camden are invaluable to us...

I agree Policywonk, the figures for the rise in sexual assualts and rapes in Camden (where 'clubs' are in residential areas) and other boroughs (where clubs are mostly in business/entertainment/minimal residential) are quite astounding.

There is a lap/pole dancing club in a tiny local village nr me, it started off as 2 nights per week and now is 4+. Still has the climbing frame in the pub garden and a sign saying 'families welcome' mixed with the more exotic posters.

'Families welcome' FFS. What planet are these people on?

The lap dancing club that opened in our town (funnily enough across from the Library!) was burnt down months later in an arson

There was a lot of people up in arms about it when it opened, but in reality it caused no more and no less trouble than when it was simply a nightclub. Caused more hassle after the fire as it affected 3 local business built underneath it and forced them to close.

(Have prob disclosed my location to all those Brightonians watching this thread )

Thats not to say I don't agree with what you are doing Orangina

Hi Orangina, I think you may live in my area - is this North End Road we're talking about?

Anyway, thanks for taking this up - I'll get on to it.