Posted: Mon 20th May 2019

Lap dancing club plans rejected amid fears part of Wrexham would become no-go area for women

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Monday, May 20th, 2019

Plans to create a lap dancing club in Wrexham town centre have been rejected amid fears that part of the town centre would become a no-go area for women.

Politicians in the county borough met this afternoon to discuss proposals for XS Wrexham on Abbot Street to host lap dancing and pole dancing on two nights a week with full nudity.

Bar owner David Thomas said it would ‘spice up’ the town’s nightlife and inject money into the economy.

But a number of councillors raised concerns that it would lead to women being objectified and compromise the safety of dancers and members of the public.

Speaking at a meeting of Wrexham Council’s licensing committee, Labour’s Krista Childs said she believed it would put women employed at the venue at risk of exploitation.

She said: “I’m really concerned about the commercial sexual exploitation of women and I think we really need to take all these factors into account.

“It’s not just a moral issue, it’s about generations of children, young people and women and how they’re looked upon.

“I think we should maximise the safety and well-being of women and I don’t think this has a place. The research does suggest women feel unsafe around these venues whether it’s explicitly advertised or not.”

During the meeting both Mr Thomas and his representative Paul Douglas outlined steps that would be taken to ensure the safety of dancers, customers and the general public.

They said rules would be put in place for staff and customers, including a strict no-touching policy, and security guards would be present at the venue.

Mr Douglas said it would operate no differently to the existing bar, adding there would be no signs to advertise it and the windows would be blacked out.

Mr Thomas also highlighted his work as chair of the Wrexham Night Safe and Pub Watch schemes to ensure revellers in the town are safe during the evening.

However, Cllr Beverley Parry-Jones said she had ‘grave concerns’ if a sexual entertainment venue licence was given for the bar.

Deputy leader of the authority’s Conservative group, Cllr Parry-Jones said: “As a female I would feel deeply uncomfortable travelling down the street whether on foot or in a car.

“If this is a safe environment, as you’re suggesting, why in your dancers’ welfare policy have you got a point raised that they will need to be escorted to their departing vehicles?”

Cllr Derek Wright (Lab) raised questions over some of the rules of employment for dancers, who would have been sourced from agencies.

He said as a union representative he would not encourage women to sign the terms, which he suggested gave them no right to appeal if they were dismissed.

Meanwhile, Carrie Harper (Plaid) claimed it would conflict with the council’s policies on equality if the application was given the go ahead.

She said: “If the granting of this application potentially makes this end of town a no-go area for women that potentially amounts to discrimination.”

In response to some of the problems mentioned, Mr Thomas warned some bars and clubs were at risk of closing if there was no change to the entertainment on offer.

The lack of objections submitted to the council was also brought up, with only members of Offa Community Council sending a letter against the scheme.

He said: “What I’ve seen in the time I’ve operated in Wrexham is a significant decline in the night-time economy.

“I’ve had a discussion with other operators in the vicinity and they all welcome this.

“It will improve the night-time economy and basically spice it up and get more stag parties coming in.

“I personally feel that if action isn’t taken then in five years there may be little or no night-time economy in the town.”

After retiring for more than half an hour to consider all the representations made, committee members decided to refuse the application because of the impact it would have on the character of the town centre.

It was the second time Mr Thomas unsuccessfully applied to the authority for a sex establishment licence after a bid for the same club was rejected in 2015.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).



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