Truro's first sex shop could be closed by Christian pressure group
| Posted: November 25, 2010
A CHRISTIAN pressure group could force Truro's first licensed sex shop to close.
Campaigners this week won a major victory in their bid to secure a judicial review of Cornwall Council's decision to grant the licence.
And the council has said it will not defend the legal challenge, which could see Mrs Palm Ltd shut if the case goes ahead.
City councillor Armorel Carlyon and the Christian Institute launched action in the High Court, claiming procedures were not followed correctly at the original hearing when the licence was granted in August.
The issue is believed to centre on two key elements of the hearing. The first was the decision to disregard many of the letters of objection on the grounds that they focused on the morality of the shop.
Location
The second was that the committee did not take into sufficient account the location of the sex shop, which is next door to school outfitters Trevails in Little Castle Street. It opened its doors for the first time at the weekend.
A council spokesman said: "The council, having considered the matter carefully, has decided not to contest the judicial review.
"How the interested party, Mrs Palm Limited, decides to proceed in these circumstances is a matter for them."
Simon Calvert, deputy director of the Christian Institute who led its campaign against the shop's licence, said: "The decision by the council not to contest the case reflects the strength of our case."
The move by Cornwall Council not to defend the licensing committee's decision surprised Mrs Palm's directors.
Owner Braxton Reynolds said: "As a licensee I would have expected Cornwall Council to have defended the position of their licensee."
The case will now go before a judge who will decide if there are enough grounds to grant the review.
Christmas
If given approval then a judicial review will probably be heard late next year.
In the meantime, however, a licensing committee hearing has allowed the premises to extend its hours for late night Christmas shopping. It will now be allowed to open until 9.30pm every Wednesday – three hours later than normal under the terms of the original licence.
Councillors also agreed it could include the street number and drop the word "Ltd" from its sign but drew the line at replacing it with a website address.
Mr Reynolds said: "We decided on a low-key affair but much of the stock is on the walls.
"We've had several customers already as well as a few people coming in out of sheer curiosity."
Comments
I do have to say that certain protestors are being very hypocritical and out only for their own personal gain .....due to the fact that they sell "like minded products" and do not want the competition albeit in a different location. I would also suggest that the majority of people that visit "sex shops" are of the female persuation and not so called male perverts who apparently (suggested by another article on this topic) may bump into someone aroused. For goodness sake if its the children we are protecting .....lets ban all video and newsagents from selling tabloids and topshelf material ...all of which are on display for school children to see on a daily basis whilst buying their sweets for school. By the way for all those who believe that a sex shop only attracts perverts they need to take one heck of a reality check .....most so called perverts will get their kicks on line ...for free, gratis and not spend it on in some cases expensive marital aids from a sex shop. Before the high and mighty start having a go ...I had a very stong christian upbringing and still have very high morals this does not mean that I am a prude or against something that a person has free choice over ........Married in an extremley loving relationship with four children ranging from 4-13 I would have no problem with this on my doorstep.... Maybe if the christian extremists (and i use the term lighly) educated their children and others in all ways of the world unbiasly they may have a better all round grounding in life and have more numbers in their churches on a weekly basis ....... just an observation
I'm trying to get my head around the moral objections to this shop and some of the comments on here. This shop is not for children so why are people talking about protecting children? Closing down a sex shop wont protect children! Children are more likely to access things of a sexual nature on the internet, recent statistics suggest children are accessing poronography on the internet from age 11. Children are also bombarded with sexual messages and images in the media from the moment they are born. This is the kind if exposure to sex that needs to be tackled. Also why is it that it is assumed somebody who goes into a sex shop and purchases a product must be some kind of pervert or degenerate member of society or of a certain sexuality!!!? You do realise you can't actually buy sex in these shops!!? Lets face it, sex is a fact of life, sex is enjoyable and pleasurable (or should be). Items bought in a sex shop can sometimes make sex even more enjoyable and pleasurable or add a bit of fun. People from all walks of life use items to spice up their sex lives, singles, couples, gay, straight, married, unmarried, young and old. I can only assume those who are complaining on a moral ground have their own issues regarding sex which they are trying to push on to others.
And just as people have a *right* to *choose* whether they go into this shop or not, people ALSO have a *right* if they so *choose* to object to it's location. We do not live in a democracy that only works for some and not others. Or do we?
It is a shop selling adult toys which we can choose to go in or not,nothing to do with religion or any equality and diversity laws,actually,if I were the director of this shop I would get one of the councils equality and diversity bods to sort this out for me.See they do have a use after all.
If the MLC have granted a license and not given due weight to the objection, then it is not a legitimate license. The MLC did not run the hearing in accordance with the regulations for license hearings. The MLC did not give due consideration to 'inappropriate location'. The MLC appear to think that they can operate without following guidelines laid down by the Secretary of State. Morality, Christianity and other polarised opinions cloud this issue entirely. If the license issued were not for a sex shop Cornwall Council and it's inept MLC would not be able to hide their procedural impropriety quite so well.
I am getting more enraged toward our Truro Council as far as its trading issues go as regards this. Ann Summers sells near enough everything Mrs Palm does, as does Clarendon Imports behind Somerfields yet nothing has ever been said on these, and a few other shops in Truro that sell goods of an adult nature. Why? ill tell you its because they get away by not selling a few items or a percentage of their stock is only adult goods. They are still sex shops, what about all the children and parents who have to shop in Somerfield or get their shoes from the shoe shop next to Ann Summers, they have to pass those shops, why does Trevails think its any different, its because they happen to sell school uniforms to religious schools, if they were to "ordianry" schools bothing probably would have been said. As ive stated in a previous comment it is down to religious councillors saying what we should and shouldnt buy or have on sale in Truro on MORAL grounds, this shouldnt be , people should have freedom of choice, if you dont like it dont go in. Councillor Carlyon and this "christian institute" are trying to preach and convert, the fact that its sex goods shouldnt have any standing to a trade licence , i thought we were part of the EU now? there wouldnt be this fiasco in main Europe. The latest vicar and nun protest outside of Mrs palm shows how its become an issue of so called morals and not of one on trading grounds. I hate all the surf shops and all the art shops appearing, but if i dont like them i dont go in, and in trading terms this is exactly the same as what ive said above. If our "missionaries" in Truro get their way the council should start looking at every business with the slightest adult product on sale, because it will make a martyr of Mrs Palm, and im sure that wont happen if the EU is consulted in an appeal. Dont Trevails have any problem with Quintessentials, which is almost next door as well, full of drug merchandise for the use of using drugs? Parents and the children have to walk past there. It is a religious crusade victimising Mrs Palm alone because they came up front saying they were just selling sex goods. Sort your act out Truro Council, leave out the moral issues and let the Truro populace make their own minds up to which goods they do and do not wish to buy. I do not wish to see illegal shops etc or those that break the law, but for those that wish to purchase legal sex goods they are a normal part of society (as far as trading goes) as much as any other product.
Amazing. Everyone is missing the point that the only people responsible for this fiasco are Cornwall Council's Miscellaneous Licensing Committee. They ignored the objections to the sex shop as they have ignored the publics opinions on sex establishments in general. We do live in a democracy and it is questionable that the committee ignored its electorate. The Miscellaneous Licensing Committee are not fit for purpose and continue to bring the council into disrepute. The fact that the council are not fighting this judicial review proves that they know they were wrong. In fact the council must love everyone arguing about morals and about christianity. It keeps the spotlight off them. Put the blame where it belongs. With the council and not with people who simply are exercising their right to take part in the democratic process. Dave Pascoe wrote;- Everone is missing the point etc... Dave, you are missing the point! The 'point' is that this shop is a perfectly legitimate business, located in a legitimate, designated retail area and has every right to apply for and obtain a license to trade, which it has secured at no-doubt considerable expense, in order to provide goods to an identified market in Truro area. The shop offers income oppotunity for the local authority, employment oppotunities, adds to the GDP of the area and benefits the community. Dave, you are WRONG when you say that the MLC's decision not to fight a judicial review proves they made a wrong decision. They made a correct dicision under the law as it stands. To understand this comment, you need to look closely at the MLC's Commitie members! Should a Judicial review be granted, which I doubt, I suspect that such a review would not result in a revoke of the license. In my view, ratification of the MLC's decision to grant a license would be the only available and the correct Judicial Review decision. As far as I can see, every license requirement has been complied with, every aspect of this application thoroughly reviewed by the MLC, all issues legally addressed in full to thier satisfaction! Incidently;- Who would compensate the director's for all the inputs to the shop since license was granted, business, re-location, legal costs etc? Will the Christian Institute look to provide jobs, revenue, commerce etc to replace that being now provided by this shop if it is forced out? I suspect the Christian Institute would expect Truro Council Tax payers to pick up the compensation bill! Very Christian Indeed! Who's running Cornwall, the Christian Institute or the Council. GOOD QUESTION!
the religious industry should get its own house in order before criticising other industries,what with all the child abuse in usa & ireland(and thats just what we know about)
If the religous brigade indulged in love the world could be a safer place stop moaning about others and get your own houses in order.
Amazing. Everyone is missing the point that the only people responsible for this fiasco are Cornwall Council's Miscellaneous Licensing Committee. They ignored the objections to the sex shop as they have ignored the publics opinions on sex establishments in general. We do live in a democracy and it is questionable that the committee ignored its electorate. The Miscellaneous Licensing Committee are not fit for purpose and continue to bring the council into disrepute. The fact that the council are not fighting this judicial review proves that they know they were wrong. In fact the council must love everyone arguing about morals and about christianity. It keeps the spotlight off them. Put the blame where it belongs. With the council and not with people who simply are exercising their right to take part in the democratic process.