Sex shop fights objections to trade for another year

A SEX shop has fought off determined opposition to continue trading in Truro for another year.

The controversial Mrs Palm store on Little Castle Street has allegedly been the victim of "entrapment" and the subject of a "discreet survey" by opponents.

A lively meeting to discuss the application for a renewed licence heard where one council member chose to buy their underwear.

After three hours of discussion, members of Cornwall Council's miscellaneous licensing committee voted to renew the shop's licence for a further 12 months.

The meeting heard a letter of objection from a Mrs EM Bellamy, which stated: "Others and myself have done a discreet survey of this shop. We discovered not many members of the public enter the shop, except some youngsters coming out of the shop giggling ...."

The owner of the shop, Braxton Reynolds, told the committee there had previously been an attempt at "entrapment" by a man trying to buy goods from the shop after the official closing time on behalf of objectors.

Mr Reynolds and his business partner Nikki Hewitt also successfully applied for a variation of conditions so that they could keep displays of clothing in the window.

Former mayor of Truro, Armorel Carlyon, has continually objected to the store which opened in November 2010.

Mrs Carlyon claimed in a letter that: "The wording of Mrs Palm used in this context is an obscenity and should not be displayed on the fascia board."

During the meeting Lisa Dolley, Cornwall Council member for Redruth North, asked the council's legal officer Mark Andrews: "I don't have to declare that I buy my underwear at Ann Summers do I?"

The committee, which met on Friday, granted the application for a licence renewal and said the windows could display goods but must be cased.