Kerry welcomes new laws on Lap Dancing Clubs

The Government has announced that it will give the power to oppose an application for a lap dancing club on the basis that it would be inappropriate given the character of their local neighbourhood. These will also mean that all lap dancing clubs are classed as sex establishments.

This could make a real difference in Bristol especially in areas such as Old Market where there is a high proportion of such establishments.

Last year, local residents fought against a new lap dancing club in Old Market. They were however limited in the objections they could make in that they had to fall under one of the following categories: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm. Now local people will be able to oppose an application for a lap dancing club on the basis that it would be inappropriate given the character of the locality. Local authorities will be able to impose a wide range of conditions on a licence and set a quota on the number of lap dancing clubs they feel would be appropriate for a particular area, rejecting any further applications once such a quota has been met.

Kerry McCarthy, who supported the Old Market Community Association’s objections to the planning application last year has welcomed the announcement saying:

“These provisions will help to empower local people and give them control over the environment in which they live. The hard work of the Old Market Community Association paid off last year when Councillors made the right decision to refuse planning permission to yet another lap-dancing club in the area. If Bristol City Council choose to adopt these measures then this will remove some of the bureaucracy surrounding these decisions and let local opinion prevail.”

The new measures form part of the Policing and Crime Act 2009.