Newquay licence for sex club outrages opponents
| Posted: November 02, 2011
A NEWQUAY lap-dancing bar has become the first in Cornwall to gain a new licence to provide sexual entertainment.
Wild Cherry, on Beach Road, was granted a new Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) licence by Cornwall Council’s Miscellaneous Licensing Committee on Thursday.
However, the decision has prompted an angry response by campaigners, who are opposed to the lap-dancing industry located in the town near shops and beaches.
The SEV was introduced by the Government at the start of this year and emphasises that lap-dancing venues should be appropriately located.
Wild Cherry’s licence application received 81 letters of objection from the public.
Newquay police were also against the application, stating that the Koola Bar, which is part of Wild Cherry and the Chy Bar, failed a test purchase when bouncers allowed a 15- and 16-year-old in at 9.30pm on August 20 and allowed them to buy two bottles of beer.
Police told the committee that this was demonstrative of poor management.
Police also objected to the application on the grounds of crime and disorder as well as inappropriate location.
Owner Ian Whittaker rejected the police’s claims.
“I disagree with the police’s claim that the test purchase shows I’m not a responsible licensee,” he said.
“We hold Exodus nights, for under-age teens, where no alcohol is available to anyone.”
Lyndon Harrison, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Leisure and Tourism, also supported the application. “This type of business is absolutely necessary for Newquay to be able to compete with other towns and cities around the country,” he insisted.
Campaigners are now demanding answers from Cornwall Council and questioning the procedure used in awarding the licence.
Dave Sleeman, chairman of Newquay Town Residents’ Association, has written to the council’s chief executive Kevin Lavery and its leader Alec Robertson declaring the committee “not fit for purpose”.
Tracy Earnshaw, who campaigns against lap-dancing, said it was bizarre that two contrary decisions could be made by the council within the space of eight days.
Duty
On Wednesday, October 19, the council stripped Newquay’s Halos Gentlemen’s Club of its licence.
Mrs Earnshaw said: “Cornwall Council has a statutory duty under the Crime and Disorder Act to do all that it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder. Granting a licence to Wild Cherry in the face of overwhelming opposition and evidence against it is a failure of that duty.”
A council spokesman confirmed the licence allowing Chy/Koola/Wild Cherry to sell alcohol would be reviewed, on a date yet to be confirmed.
Wild Cherry’s SEV will come into force on January 1, 2012, and allow it to open from 10pm to 4am between Thursday and Saturday.
Comments
You are right Elizabeth the rape figures are completely independent of any lap dancing club figures. And as no-one is dragged in off the streets but goes there of their own free will I fail to see what all the fuss is about. If you don't like it don't go there as easy as that.
Not sure why the issue of rape is even on a thread about lap dancing clubs. As you say if they are well run then what is the link to rape figures? Surely no one is suggesting that lap dancing clubs are attracting rapists to Cornwall? or that the lap dancing clubs are providing a valuable social service by keeping rapes down?
Couldn't agree more Elizabeth but you will find it is male rape and child rape that are the most under-reported crimes when it comes to sexual crime and for once I agree with the wishy washy lib dem that one rape is one too many, whether on a man, woman or child. Where I personally stand on this matter, I think that as long as they are run within the law and are not seedy operations (as in traffiked women etc) they should be allowed a license, the moral standing by some does not hold much ground when recently a postman in cornwall was put behind bars for sexual crimes against children, the catholic church has many instances across the world of child abuse by the very priests who are meant to be there to protect and guide the young and a couple of years ago in Plymouth a member of staff at a children's nursery was put away for sexual abuse crimes yet they do not mean that every postman, priest or nursery worker is to be tarred with the same brush and would be put under the same scrutiny as a place like wild cherry that is open about exactly what it is.
Has anyone a price list?
Rape is the most under reported crime. http://tinyurl.com/3d7pdf What a bizarre stance that strip clubs are helping to keep rape figures down.
The Voice had an article from an FOI to the Police back in 2010 here is the link to the article, relevant and I hope the moderators will accept it as evidence to other readers who have asked for it. Do not get me wrong, it is going to surprise some of you who are anti everything in life. http://tinyurl.com/cxdw2cp
Abrahamcat, well it looks if it could belong to the council CEO or the leader because I believe they are both rustlers.
Ch Insp Adrian Studd of the Metropolitan Police!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously qualified to opine.
That photo doesn't look like it was taken in a strip club. I wonder whose derrière that is?
That picture doesn't look like it was taken at a strip club. I wonder whose derrière that is?