Lowestoft lap dancing club plan is rejected

08:47 02 December 2014

Kathryn Bradley

Waveney District Council’s licensing sub committee voted unanimously against an application to open Jessy Fantail in the former Bank Stores pub, in Commercial Road, on November 21.

Applicants Hazel Wilson and Stephen Barrett were given the go-ahead to open the Candy Lounge Gentleman’s Club in nearby Station Square in February and said they would surrender that licence if they received approval to open in Bank Stores.

Speaking after the meeting, committee member Sarah Webb said councillors felt the location of the latest venue at the gateway to the town and close to residential properties was inappropriate.

Christ Church Lowestoft and Lowestoft Town Pastors were among hundreds of people, also including residents, councillors and businesses, to object the proposals.

The Rev Matthew Payne, vicar of Christ Church and a member of the town pastors committee, attended the licensing meeting.

He said: “I think it is a good decision for the town.

“Although it is only 100 yards away from the previous application, it is a very different location.

“A family with children live in the next door building and there is also the Bridge View Centre nearby where there are vulnerable people.”

Mr Payne said there were also moral objections to the proposed sex venue, which were not allowed to be considered as part of the licensing application process.

He said: “It is basically something that degrades women for the titillation and stimulation of men.

“In this day and age, with all our emphasis on equality, it seems extraordinary to me that this would be allowed.”

Janet Craig, Waveney district councillor for the Harbour Ward, also welcomed the licensing committee’s decision, saying she was pleased with the result, especially for the families living nearby.

She said: “The residents are really pleased because they thought they were going to be forced to move.

“They are not all on benefits. Some of them are working in low paid jobs and they don’t have many choices of where they can live.

“For the town generally, the appearance of Commercial Road and Station Square area is improving generally and it would have been a backward step. I also think it could put off visitors to the town. People who visit Lowestoft aren’t looking for that kind of thing.”