No sex clubs, please. We’ve got enough!
Published: 5th November, 2010
by PETER GRUNER
THERE were “sighs of relief” this week that Islington Council was finally going to crack down on erotic entertainment.
It will mean that pub regulars will no longer need to worry that their local could turn into into a lap dancing or pole dance club.
Until now, clubs have not needed a licence and the council has struggled to stop them opening. There are already five strip or lap-dancing clubs in the borough.
Cllr Paul Smith, executive member for environment, said: “We’re on the side of residents and don’t want endless sleaze swamping our communities.
“We’re saying we think there are enough so-called ‘sex encounter’ venues in Islington, we don’t need any more and we’re going to be tougher in regulating those already here. The council intends to adopt a policy to limit the number of sex encounter venues in the borough to nil, and this puts us in a very strong position when dealing with any future applications.”
Plans for pole dancing at the Archway Tavern were unceremoniously thrown out by an Islington licensing committee three years ago.
The applicant, Hornsey GP Dr I Sardar, wanted to establish an upstairs members-only pole and table dancing club, beginning at 10pm, at the pub on the Archway Close traffic island.
He admitted that he personally had never visited such an establishment.
A huge campaign involving local residents and councillors from all parties managed to persuade the council to refuse the project.
Kate Calvert, who chairs the Better Archway Forum, is one of those who campaigned against the pole dance club.
She is delighted that the council is going to take a tougher stand.
“No one wants this kind of establishment close to their homes or businesses,” she said.
“Anything that will stop these clubs opening in residential areas has got to be a good thing.”