HearFromYourMP

Comments

• Posted by S Lewis, 15:24, Mon 12 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Not as concerned as I am about 24 hour drinking and the feral hordes of disaffected youth found on buses and loitering with intent. I suggest we give them vouchers to visit the club and then we can get on with our lives in peace.

• Posted by Will Daniels, 15:32, Mon 12 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Though I don't exactly "welcome" the proposal, I certainly don't feel that it would be either correct or reasonable to reject the application on any of the grounds stated above.

• Posted by Mike Evetts, 15:45, Mon 12 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Personally, I have no objection. Provided the premises are licensed and controlled.

  I have no axe to grind here , as a happily married middle-aged chap, the chances of my visiting this venue are less than zero, but for those who do wish to pay exotic prices for exotic pleasures, and if Solihull is ever going to be something than a stuffy parochial middle class suburb, then I have no objection whatsoever.

• Posted by Peter Hall, 16:05, Mon 12 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  While I know nothing about the manner in which the decision was taken, I am relaxed about the license being granted. Dare I say that this looks like another dose of "Nimbyism" that has affected Solihull. I just do not see it harming children, causing a disturbance or crime, or putting the public at risk. Such clubs exist elsewhere without major difficulties.

  I suggest the Council has other, more important things to worry about.

• Posted by Adrian Allsopp, 08:50, Fri 16 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Dear Lorely Burt

  I strongly object to the licence being granted. The council cannot (or should not be able to) blame legislation for its decisions and actions. As you might be aware, Lap dancing clubs are currently licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 in the same way as cafes and pubs – with a Premises Licence. Yet lap dancing clubs are part of the sex industry, not the ordinary leisure industry. They normalise the sexual objectification of women and are counter to efforts to promote gender equality. Areas surrounding lap dancing clubs can become ‘no-go’ areas for women, and individuals working in the clubs face extremely poor working conditions. These issues currently cannot be considered during licensing processes. Moreover lax licensing prevents local authorities from applying vital controls to lap dancing clubs and denies local people a say in whether they can open in their area.

  I am very concerned that the Government’s plans to tighten lap dancing club licensing are inadequate. As a supporter of the campaign by Object and the Fawcett Society to reform licensing, I urge you to ask the Rt. Hon Alan Johnson MP to ensure the reforms are robust and comprehensive.

  The Government has pledged to address this problem through Clause 26 (Part 2) of the Policing and Crime Bill (PCB). The PCB will offer local authorities greater control over lap dancing clubs through the Sex Encounter Venue (SEV) licence category, via adoption of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. I welcome the introduction of this bill. However, I am extremely concerned that the provisions currently included in Clause 26 are inadequate.

  Clause 26 is inadequate on two counts:

  1. The licensing reforms are optional: Adoption of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 is currently optional. Therefore, Clause 26 will not guarantee all local communities a greater say in the licensing of lap dancing clubs because this outcome will depend on whether their local authority decides to adopt the legislation. This will give rise to a ‘postcode lottery’ over whether local communities have a say in the licensing of lap dancing. An uneven licensing landscape will also be vulnerable to exploitation by the lap dancing club industry. This is precisely what happened prior to the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003, when lap dancing clubs exerted pressure for looser regulation on the basis of uneven licensing regimes.

  2. Venues hosting lap dancing less than once a month are exempt: Clause 26 currently exempts venues where lap dancing is held less frequently than once a month. This will exclude a significant number of venues that hold ‘lap dancing nights’, catered for by lap dancing agencies that take bookings in a range of public houses, bars and hotel venues. This sub-market will likely grow if the exemption remains in Clause 26, as local authorities will be prevented from applying the greater regulations to such venues and local people will not have a say over whether and where they are put on.

  These two elements undermine the stated aim of Clause 26 - to empower communities to better control the number and location of lap dancing venues and events in their area. As a local resident, I will not be guaranteed a greater say in the licensing process by this legislation, nor will I be given a say over all lap dancing venues.

  Please contact Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MP and urge him to make sure the legislation is universally applicable to local authorities in England and Wales, and that venues hosting lap dancing less than once a month are not exempt from the legislation. This would ensure that local people are guaranteed a say in whether lap dancing venues can operate in our area.

  Many Thanks,

  Mr Allsopp

• Posted by Neil Moore, 11:12, Tue 27 October 2009: (Is this post abusive?) #

  Lorelei,

  I am against the granting of a licence for a lap dancing club in Solihull.

  Whilst I am not familiar with the legal framework and the proposed changes to legislation in Mr Allsopp's reply, I am pleased that there is such concern and action going on.

  I am responding as a Christian based in Solihull, and as the father of three children growing up in Solihull.

  Lorelei, is there anything else that you can do to help properly review Solihull residents' opinions as to whether the granting of this licence was correct?

  Neil

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