'It's the last thing we need': Residents react to new lap-dance club proposal
Plans to open a lap dancing club in Middlesbrough have been slammed as “demeaning” and “juvenile” by an MP.
Proposals to turn Slam on Exchange Square near Middlesbrough Railway Station into a lap dancing club have been revealed in Middlesbrough Council agenda papers ahead of a licensing meeting next week.
Cleveland Police have objected to the plans citing several assaults at the venue and claiming the “wrong clientele” would be attracted to the venue.
And Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald said: “To class this as entertainment is ridiculous.
“No doubt the planners will have to work within the guidelines that are set before them. I would wish the proprietors for something better to do with their premises.
“It will not be welcome by an enormous number of people - and I include myself in that. It’s not what Middlesbrough needs.”
Wild West Leisure Ltd has submitted the application to Middlesbrough Council to vary the premises licence which proposes the supply of alcohol from 11am to 4am daily and provision of regulated entertainment from 11am to 4am daily.
Currently the premises sell alcohol from 11am to 4am Monday, 11am to 3am Tuesday to Saturday and 12pm to 2am Sunday.
Alterations include a new entrance, a new wall to create two rooms, removal of fixed seating and provision of booth seating to create a lap-dancing area.
The application does not include an application for a sexual entertainment venue licence. If the application to vary the premises licence is successful, then a separate application for a sexual entertainment venue licence must be submitted and granted prior to “any activities classed as sexual in nature” taking place at the premises.
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Exchange Place in Middlesbrough
Cleveland Police have objected to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.
Their objections state that the premises are located in an area where Middlesbrough Council has declared the area as a “cumulative impact zone”.
“In the last 12 months there have been numerous incidents of crime and disorder at the premises some of which have resulted in persons receiving injuries from assaults,” the police said.
They provide three examples; April 6, 2014, 2.20am two people assaulted in the smoking area of the venue; June 13, 2014, at about 1.10am two men assaulted by two men inside the premises resulting in one man being knocked unconscious and suffered swelling to the head requiring emergency medical attention; September 20, 2014, at about 3am a man was assaulted inside the premises and suffered a swollen and cut lip.
The police statement added: “Although the venue has seen an improvement it is the opinion of Cleveland Police that by the venue changing its theme and moving into adult entertainment that the wrong clientele will be attracted to the venue and issues will arise once again.”
Middlesbrough’s first lap-dancing club Secrets within Spensley’s Emporium on Albert Road - owned by Lee Spensley - opened amid controversy in 2003.
It was closed in December 2010 following complaints by the police.
Cleveland Police raised concerns about the lap-dancing club on Zetland Road after CCTV showed women dancing closer to customers than the rules allow.
A decision regarding Slam will be made at a meeting of the council’s licensing sub-committee on Monday.
The Gazette has been unable to contact Wild West Leisure Ltd for comment.
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