A strip club has won its fight to stay in business after campaigners slammed it as "degrading" to the women who work there.
Pink Papers in Southend faced scathing opposition in its bid to have it licence renewed by Southend Council, following a history of complaints about drunk punters.
But bosses can now celebrate seeing off the critics after a decision was made allowing strippers to return when lockdown measures allow it, Echo News reports.
The licence does not come without strict new demands however, with Pink Papers bosses ordered to keep a close eye on clients to prevent crime or antisocial behaviour.
Another condition imposed by the council is that dancers being must be fully dressed while not performing at the seafront club.
It is also the owners' responsibility to ensure no customers are “loitering unnecessarily” outside the venue and they must “vacate immediately” to “make the minimum impact upon the neighbourhood in relation to potential nuisance, antisocial behaviour, crime and disorder”.
Since the passing of the licence renewal, campaigners and residents have questioned how the conditions regarding customers will be enforced.
The Echo for Basildon, Canvey and Southend in Essex reports local couple Alistair and Carly Cullins disagree with the decision.
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Mr Cullins said: “I can’t see how they will enforce or police this and how the club bosses will put this into practice.
“There is a concern about how degrading a club like this it is to the women who work there. What are the club bosses going to do take them home by the hand and tell them not to misbehave.”
His wife Carly said she’s campaigned to stop similar clubs opening and running in the town in the past but to no luck.
She said: “I don’t know what we are trying to do by having clubs like this and I do not think it should have had its licence renewed.”
It was discussed in the licensing meeting that a council officer inspected Pink Papers for compliance with coronavirus restrictions in October and no issues were found.
The applicant’s representative argued to a licensing committee on March 25 that there was no evidence of the club causing or increasing antisocial behaviour.
At the meeting, he also urged councillors to give special consideration to the dancers put out of work and livelihood income as a result of lockdowns.
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