Three of Wilmslow's local councillors have spoken out to oppose the renewal of the sexual entertainment licence for a lap dancing club on Grove Street, which they consider to be an inappropriate location for the venue.
Councillors Gary Barton, Wesley Fitzgerald and Rod Menlove have released the following statement, in response to representation they have received from various Wilmslow residents and based on their own concerns.
"We believe that the renewal of a sexual entertainment license for the ST Lounge on Grove Street, Wilmslow should be refused. This is not an objection relating to the specific applicant, nor purely a moral objection to such establishments.
"We believe that Grove Street is a wholly inappropriate location for sexual entertain venues. Grove Street is at the heart of our shopping centre and the presence of a strip club is significantly harmful and a blight on the character of the locality. We are urgently seeking ways to support our struggling shops whilst also encouraging the development of a thriving café and restaurant culture – a process damaged by this application.
"The location itself is close to four of the Wilmslow's major churches and almost on the doorstep of Wilmslow Prep as well as being on the route home for a number of Wilmslow High School's pupils. Furthermore, the relatively compact nature of Wilmslow town centre means that the location of this application all but backs on to the primarily residential roads of Hawthorn Street and Grove Avenue.
"The level of public opposition to this application is significant and we wholeheartedly support our local residents and Wilmslow Town Council in recommending that this application be denied."
ST Lounge, which opened in Wilmslow town centre in 2009, has to reapply for their licence annually following Cheshire East Council's adoption of Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 which came into effect from 4th April 2011.
Van Leisure Limited, who operate the lap dancing club, applied on Monday 21st January 2013 for the renewal of a licence to use the premises for lap dancing, table dancing, strip shows and full nudity.
The deadline for objecting or supporting this application was February 18th and a decision is expected to be made by the General Licensing Sub-Committee in March.
Do you think ST Lounge should have their licence renewed? Share you views via the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
It all seems a bit hysterical, doesn't it?
They could have parked elsewhere and walked a hundered yards or so and saved a gallon of petrol in the time they wasted crusing for a slot while making the majority of Grove Street shoppers (the ones on foot) give up 90% of the available space in the street just so these legless folk could stay in their cars right up to the shop doorway!
As I said at the time in the local paper when pedestrianisation was being considered, maybe we should convert Grove St to 'drive-in' shops so these folk would never have to leave their beloved tin boxes. I wouldn't be surprised if some are so in love with the car that take them to bed with them at night!
The green patrol are always so quick to blame cars for all their woes. Yes it was a busy street, especially with prams but it was alive!
Knutsford has no equivalent of such a feeder road to such an out-of-town centre.
As for the ST Lounge, I didn't even know it was there until this publicity pointed it out to me. Refusing continuation of an existing business that seems to do no harm just because some people 'don't like it' is a slippery slope. Live and let live!
I quite agree regarding the ST lounge, I'm sure trade has had quite a boost recently!
Lets put our energy into bringing Wilmslow back to life with fewer empty units.
On the alternative topic which has developed here, I have to say that I too prefer the pedestrianised Grove Street. It could be bedlam before, and we still have two roads open to traffic which do the same job.
There are many reasons why the trends of "shoppers" have changed over the last 50 years. The biggest in my opinion being the globalisation of the economy, the Internet and out of town shopping centres. 'I don't believe that pedestrianising Grove Street is as significant as these.
What shops still remain in Grove Street that were there before it was pedestrianised? Possibly some of the Jewellers and the banks / building societies, Boots and WH Smith. Can anyone think of any others?
In the main it is people on foot that "shop" on the "high" street. that is becasue they cannot get access to the shop by vehicle!. People in vehicles only tend to shop in filling stations, garages, car showrooms and other vehicle related retailers and "Drive ins" such as fast food outlets. Most of which are not on "the high street".
And finally I'm not decided on whether ST Lounge should have its license renewed as I don't use it.
Something has to change or Grove Street will wither - Thorntons closing but lap dancing club wanting a new licence, you couldn't make it up. This is not the Wilmslow I moved to.
Back to the main topic, leave the ST Lounge be and concentrate on returning Grove St to its original vibrancy!
The big supermarkets killed off the grocers, green grocers, butchers etc because the public voted with their feet and decided to shop under one roof rather than traipse from shop to shop, queing at each, in the high st. This process of death-of-the-hight-st pre-dates pedestrianisation, which merely made what was left of Grove St a more pleasant environment than it would have been if left as a busy road with cars dominating people.
The second stage of the death of the high st came anmd is coming with the internet. Everything you can buy on line is moving off the high st and onto the internet. And why wouldn't it? I wanted to buy a gease nipple for one of my motorcycles, but no local shops had one and the next thing would have been a trip to Stockport or manchester, either of which could have been equally fruitless. Instead, I went home and ordered one on line. It was cheaper than a shop would have charged, and was on my doorstep next morning!
So what's left on the high st? Some up market specialist shops perhaps, and stuff you can't get on line like a spot of lunch or a cup of coffee.
It's change - natural progression. And it will never cease.
Knutsford's King Street survives due to having a very large carpark one row behind it and being 10 miles from Handforth Dean. It also attracts shoppers who won't come near Wilmslow as there is little they can buy here that is worth the inconvenienceof the journey and parking. Let's see how well it does when the new Aldi/Lidl ? with free carpark opens!!
As has been clearly stated in earlier comments the bar poses no danger or inconvenience to the residents of Wilmslow and most people were unaware of the nature of the bar prior to the recent publicity.
I support ST lounge's application renewal. Why? Because it happens behind closed doors with consenting adults, I don't have to see it if I don't want to go and I am fed up of this "nanny state" many politicians are turning this once great country into.
Wake up and smell the coffee councillors. There are plenty of coffee outlets in the surrounding area who can afford the ludicrous business rates levied on Wilmslow retailers.
11 are in favour (12 inc me) on a live & let live basis
4 against (3 CEC local Cllrs + 1 other)
I note the heads of the 3 local churches or nearby schools appear not to have commented here.
If the ST Lounge has been the cause of any 'disturbance', on or off the premises, then the Police have the option to object tro Licence renewal.
Basic planning Regs allow for rejection of permission for duplication of retail outlets on the same road or street. Hence we have a plethora of coffee shops on different roads within a half mile of each other and an estimated 5 current pubs with a Sports Bar yet to open.
I do not wish Wilmslow to become the Soho of Cheshire, and would object to planning applications for additional 'Gentemans Clubs'.
If the ST Club was forced to relocate, where do Wilmslow NIMBYs suggest and what retailer should occupy current ST Lounge premises?
Get a grip people !!!!!!