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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stringfellow slams lapdance plans | Stringfellow slams lapdance plans |
| (20 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, originally from Sheffield, said this would make it harder for premises to open. | |
| They would effectively have to go through the planning, rather than the licensing, process, he argued. | |
| '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. | 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 two London 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". |