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| Anger over Henley lap-dance club | Anger over Henley lap-dance club |
| (1 day later) | |
| Some residents in a picturesque market town famous for its royal regatta are up in arms over the prospect of a lap-dancing club opening there. | |
| Diamonds and Pearls was due to open on Saturday on the site of a former nightclub in Henley-on-Thames. | |
| South Oxfordshire District Council said it had no choice but to give permission for the new club as the premises had previously held a late-night licence. | South Oxfordshire District Council said it had no choice but to give permission for the new club as the premises had previously held a late-night licence. |
| Town councillor Dr Barry Wood has set up a group to try to close the venue. | Town councillor Dr Barry Wood has set up a group to try to close the venue. |
| Dr Wood is organising a rally next weekend and is urging people to sign a petition opposing the establishment. | Dr Wood is organising a rally next weekend and is urging people to sign a petition opposing the establishment. |
| 'Sexual imagery' | 'Sexual imagery' |
| "I'm appalled on many levels, we've already got tremendous problems with the night-time economy with drunken and abusive yobs," he said. | "I'm appalled on many levels, we've already got tremendous problems with the night-time economy with drunken and abusive yobs," he said. |
| "We're also worried about young people in the town coming into contact with sleazy and sexual imagery, not to mention the extra burden it'll put on policing." | "We're also worried about young people in the town coming into contact with sleazy and sexual imagery, not to mention the extra burden it'll put on policing." |
| The district council said it could not ban the club on moral grounds | The district council said it could not ban the club on moral grounds |
| The town's mayor, Gill Zakss, said: "It's not what you'd expect in Henley. | The town's mayor, Gill Zakss, said: "It's not what you'd expect in Henley. |
| "I'm not one of the Mary Whitehouse brigade, but I don't think it'll attract enough customers. I think in this current economic climate it will close down shortly." | "I'm not one of the Mary Whitehouse brigade, but I don't think it'll attract enough customers. I think in this current economic climate it will close down shortly." |
| Mrs Zakss added: "The club has had a chequered history over the last six or seven years and residents have suffered with people coming out drunk and making a lot of noise in the early hours of the morning - it's very un-neighbourly." | Mrs Zakss added: "The club has had a chequered history over the last six or seven years and residents have suffered with people coming out drunk and making a lot of noise in the early hours of the morning - it's very un-neighbourly." |
| The licensing authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, said it had received no objections from the police or residents during the consultation period. | The licensing authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, said it had received no objections from the police or residents during the consultation period. |
| However, a number of conditions were recommended, including changing the club's closing time from 0400 to 0200. It could be better for the area as customers for lap-dancing clubs tend to be older Chris KnightLap Dancing Association | However, a number of conditions were recommended, including changing the club's closing time from 0400 to 0200. It could be better for the area as customers for lap-dancing clubs tend to be older Chris KnightLap Dancing Association |
| Leader of the council Ann Ducker said: "We can't ban licensing on moral grounds. "We had to have grounds to reject it; the previous owners had a late licence. | Leader of the council Ann Ducker said: "We can't ban licensing on moral grounds. "We had to have grounds to reject it; the previous owners had a late licence. |
| "There's a loop in the legislation which means you don't need special permission for lap-dancing under an entertainment licence for a late-night club." | "There's a loop in the legislation which means you don't need special permission for lap-dancing under an entertainment licence for a late-night club." |
| No-one from Diamonds and Pearls was immediately available for comment. | |
| Chris Knight, a spokesman for the Lap Dancing Association, said: "If the venue is well run and operated, there's no reason why it would increase crime and disorder. | Chris Knight, a spokesman for the Lap Dancing Association, said: "If the venue is well run and operated, there's no reason why it would increase crime and disorder. |
| "In fact it could be better for the area as customers for lap-dancing clubs tend to be older, more responsible and not as many come through the door as a regular nightclub." | "In fact it could be better for the area as customers for lap-dancing clubs tend to be older, more responsible and not as many come through the door as a regular nightclub." |
| Changes to licensing regulations for lap-dancing venues are currently being considered by the government after complaints from across the country about the number of new establishments. | Changes to licensing regulations for lap-dancing venues are currently being considered by the government after complaints from across the country about the number of new establishments. |