13 August 2008

Regular readers will know that I recently added my objections to a new adult entertainment club close to Maryland Station on record. I was asked to by a number of local residents and community groups.

I was concerned that such an establishment wasn't suitable for that part of the borough, a residential area close to a number of schools, churches and mosques.

Research has shown that lap dance clubs can be a magnet for anti-social behaviour, and, given their late operating hours, also the cause of disruption and annoyance for local residents.

I was delighted when the licence for this particular club was refused, but with the problems that can be associated with such places, I think it is important they are always monitored and licensed appropriately.

As residents I believe we should have the opportunity to express concerns, and a right to expect bars and clubs that wish to offer this sort of entertainment to demonstrate that they have put in place appropriate safeguards so that local residents do not have to suffer as a result.

If a lap dance club, or similar, is really not appropriate in a particular area, such as near a school or in a residential area, the local community should be able to prevent one opening.

However, over the past few years the number of these lap dance-type bars has been growing across the country as operators have taken advantage of a loophole in current licensing laws. This has meant that licensing applications for these clubs are judged in the same way as those of pubs and nightclubs.

For this reason I recently supported a move in Parliament to close the loophole.

In June of this year, a friend of mine, Durham's Labour MP Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods, proposed legislation that would require all establishments offering adult entertainment of any kind to require a Sex Encounter Establishment licence. This is how sex shops and sex cinemas are currently licensed.

She had had major problems in her area and wanted to put it right. The proposed change to the law would mean applications for lap dance clubs would have to pass tougher tests before being allowed to open. It would also allow local councils the chance to put greater conditions and restrictions in place if they felt it was appropriate.

The Government has responded to Roberta's proposals, and calls from community and women's rights groups, and is consulting all local authorities to see if they think this change is necessary. I am sure this consultation will show that it is.

When this Bill was introduced a large number of Labour MPs were present to demonstrate our support for this change of rules.

Lynda Waltho, the Labour MP for Stourbridge also tabled an Early Day Motion to show that there was significant support for the measure from backbench MPs. I signed the EDM alongside 118 other MPs, only five of whom were Conservatives.

It was not until late July, after Parliament had broken for the summer, when the EDM had been out for months and weeks after Roberta had already proposed legislation that the Conservatives decided to announce that they were in favour of more controls on lap dancing.

As the sun is shining I will content myself to the one comment... "better late than never".