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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Stringfellow slams lapdance plans | Stringfellow slams lapdance plans |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Peter Stringfellow has told MPs that plans to make lapdance clubs apply for "sexual encounter" licences are wrong. | Peter Stringfellow has told MPs that plans to make lapdance clubs apply for "sexual encounter" licences are wrong. |
| The London club owner said councils had powers to penalise premises putting on nude shows, which was sufficient. | The London club owner said councils had powers to penalise premises putting on nude shows, which was sufficient. |
| Opponents of lapdance establishments want them to be put in the same category as sex shops, making it easier for people to stop them opening. | Opponents of lapdance establishments want them to be put in the same category as sex shops, making it easier for people to stop them opening. |
| But Mr Stringfellow told the Commons culture committee that councils should focus on closing down "bad clubs". | But Mr Stringfellow told the Commons culture committee that councils should focus on closing down "bad clubs". |
| Location | Location |
| Under current licensing law, lapdance clubs are placed in the same category as pubs and cafes. | Under current licensing law, lapdance clubs are placed in the same category as pubs and cafes. |
| This means councils are unable to take into account the kind of customers they might attract, or the suitability of the location, when awarding an alcohol licence. | This means councils are unable to take into account the kind of customers they might attract, or the suitability of the location, when awarding an alcohol licence. |
| The Local Government Association says this means officials are powerless to stop their spread. | The Local Government Association says this means officials are powerless to stop their spread. |
| It is calling for lapdance clubs to be reclassified as "sex encounter establishments" - as happens with peep shows in London - allowing local authorities to have more of a say in where they are placed. | It is calling for lapdance clubs to be reclassified as "sex encounter establishments" - as happens with peep shows in London - allowing local authorities to have more of a say in where they are placed. |
| But Mr Stringfellow, who owns two clubs in central London, said this would make it harder for premises to open, as they would effectively have to go through the planning, rather than the licensing, process. | But Mr Stringfellow, who owns two clubs in central London, said this would make it harder for premises to open, as they would effectively have to go through the planning, rather than the licensing, process. |
| 'Gentlemen's clubs' | 'Gentlemen's clubs' |
| He added: "The idea of planning should be kept out of this... I've been involved in planning on two occasions and we are talking about years. | He added: "The idea of planning should be kept out of this... I've been involved in planning on two occasions and we are talking about years. |
| "Planning is much more complex and we shouldn't be involved in such problems." | "Planning is much more complex and we shouldn't be involved in such problems." |
| Mr Stringfellow said: "Mine are not sexual encounter clubs. They are gentlemen's clubs." | Mr Stringfellow said: "Mine are not sexual encounter clubs. They are gentlemen's clubs." |
| He told the MPs a sexual encounter licence in Westminster borough, where his clubs are based, would cost £30,000 a year. | He told the MPs a sexual encounter licence in Westminster borough, where his clubs are based, would cost £30,000 a year. |
| He added: "I don't deserve to be treated in this way. My licences are correct and proper. | He added: "I don't deserve to be treated in this way. My licences are correct and proper. |
| "I don't want anyone coming into my clubs thinking they are going to get a sexual encounter." | "I don't want anyone coming into my clubs thinking they are going to get a sexual encounter." |
| Chippendales | Chippendales |
| Councils already had the power to prevent clubs gaining alcohol licences if they featured nudity or semi-nudity. | Councils already had the power to prevent clubs gaining alcohol licences if they featured nudity or semi-nudity. |
| Asked about his own establishments, he said: "Of course it's sexually stimulating, but so is a disco, so is a pretty girl. | |
| "So is David Beckham with his gear on. So are the Chippendales. I went to see them and I was the only man among 3,000 females." | "So is David Beckham with his gear on. So are the Chippendales. I went to see them and I was the only man among 3,000 females." |
| He added that his clubs were "not so sexually stimulating that you go home and get divorced and look for a dancer to live with". | He added that his clubs were "not so sexually stimulating that you go home and get divorced and look for a dancer to live with". |
| Mr Stringfellow, whose clubs have featured nude dancing girls since the mid-1990s said: "There are bad clubs. There are bad restaurants. There are bad films. There are bad discotheques. | Mr Stringfellow, whose clubs have featured nude dancing girls since the mid-1990s said: "There are bad clubs. There are bad restaurants. There are bad films. There are bad discotheques. |
| "It's up to local authorities and police to close them down." | "It's up to local authorities and police to close them down." |
| In June licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe wrote to local authorities asking whether the clubs were "adequately controlled" by the existing legislation. | In June licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe wrote to local authorities asking whether the clubs were "adequately controlled" by the existing legislation. |
| He said it was "clear that the protections and regulations set out in the 2003 [Licensing] Act and elsewhere do not go as far as some people would like". | He said it was "clear that the protections and regulations set out in the 2003 [Licensing] Act and elsewhere do not go as far as some people would like". |