By Dhruti Shah BBC News It's now as easy to open a lap dancing club as it is a coffee shop, in large parts of Britain. But there are growing objections among residents and women's rights campaigners.
By Dhruti Shah BBC News It's now as easy to open a lap dancing club as it is a coffee shop, in large parts of Britain. But there are growing objections among residents and women's rights campaigners.
With its terraces of imposing, white stuccoed Georgian houses, the inner-London enclave of West Kensington has a grandeur not typical of most residential areas. But the expressions of outrage being voiced by this group of denizens are no different to those resounding in town halls across the country.
With its terraces of imposing, white stuccoed Georgian houses, the inner-London enclave of West Kensington has a grandeur not typical of most residential areas. But the expressions of outrage being voiced by this group of denizens are no different to those resounding in town halls across the country.
"My main concern is what it's going to do to the area," says one. "How can they stop drug users and prostitutes from coming here?" asks another. "Of course the industry's linked to human trafficking," declares a further voice.
"My main concern is what it's going to do to the area," says one. "How can they stop drug users and prostitutes from coming here?" asks another. "Of course the industry's linked to human trafficking," declares a further voice.
The small group of residents are bunched on a street corner, pointing at a covered building site. Under the green tarpaulin and within the whitewashed walls, is the target of their anger - a bar.
The small group of residents are bunched on a street corner, pointing at a covered building site. Under the green tarpaulin and within the whitewashed walls, is the target of their anger - a bar.
But unlike a pub or a nightclub, this is a lap-dancing venue.Residents, two MPs and a councillor, who oppose a lap-dancing club in Kensington
But unlike a pub or a nightclub, this is a lap-dancing venue.Residents, two MPs and a councillor, who oppose a lap-dancing club in Kensington
The very idea of a lap-dancing club where performers casually strip while performing off erotic, or what defenders of the practice call exotic, moves on poles on tables, is not to everybody's taste.
The very idea of a lap-dancing club where performers casually strip while performing erotic, or what defenders of the practice call exotic, moves on poles on tables, is not to everybody's taste.
While anxious to stress they are not prudes, this group of concerned residents believe lap-dancing is not appropriate for their back yard. Infuriated by the idea of nude and semi-naked women gyrating for paying clients just a short distance from a library and two schools, they've started a campaign to stop the plan in its tracks.
While anxious to stress they are not prudes, this group of concerned residents believe lap-dancing is not appropriate for their back yard. Infuriated by the idea of nude and semi-naked women gyrating for paying clients just a short distance from a library and two schools, they've started a campaign to stop the plan in its tracks.
They're not the only ones to feel like this. Similar campaigns have sprung up in Birmingham, Newquay, Blackpool and many other communities.
They're not the only ones to feel like this. Similar campaigns have sprung up in Birmingham, Newquay, Blackpool and many other communities.
"It is inappropriate for the area," says Kensington resident and mother-of-two Rachel Marlowe. "The venue will not serve the community. People are worried prostitutes will be attracted to the place and start coming here from other areas."
"It is inappropriate for the area," says Kensington resident and mother-of-two Rachel Marlowe. "The venue will not serve the community. People are worried prostitutes will be attracted to the place and start coming here from other areas."
Kyle Verwers worries about a possible link between lap-dancing clubs and crime in areas where they have opened.
Kyle Verwers worries about a possible link between lap-dancing clubs and crime in areas where they have opened.
But what shocks them most is how easy it seems to be to set up an "exotic dancing" club. Under the Licensing Act 2003, plans for lap dancing clubs in England and Wales are treated no differently to those for restaurants, coffee shops or ordinary bars.
But what shocks them most is how easy it seems to be to set up an "exotic dancing" club. Under the Licensing Act 2003, plans for lap dancing clubs in England and Wales are treated no differently to those for restaurants, coffee shops or ordinary bars.
Limited objections
Limited objections
Under the one-size-fits-all legislation, clubs just need a premises licence, giving them permission to sell alcohol. And residents can only object on specific grounds:
protection of children from harm
prevention of crime and disorder
public safety
prevention of public nuisance
Under the one-size-fits-all legislation, clubs just need a premises licence, giving them permission to sell alcohol. And residents can only object on specific grounds:
protection of children from harm
prevention of crime and disorder
public safety
prevention of public nuisance
Opposing a lap-dancing club because one might find the activity distasteful, degrading or out of character with a neighbourhood, is pointless. Councils have to reject such appeals. I don't think a residential area is a suitable - the whole point is for the men to get excited Pamela Keep
Opposing a lap-dancing club because one might find the activity distasteful, degrading or out of character with a neighbourhood, is pointless. Councils have to reject such appeals. I don't think a residential area is a suitable - the whole point is for the men to get excited Pamela Keep
The issue has prompted a surge of interest in Parliament. The Conservative Party has carried out its own consultations while, in September, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith pledged to give communities a stronger voice. However, as of last week, a Home Office spokeswoman could not say when this would happen.
The issue has prompted a surge of interest in Parliament. The Conservative Party has carried out its own consultations while, in September, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith pledged to give communities a stronger voice. However, as of last week, a Home Office spokeswoman could not say when this would happen.
Women's rights campaigners are losing patience. On Tuesday, the Fawcett Society and Object are staging a meeting next to Parliament, which will call on government to tighten the law. It claims 300 lap dancing clubs have opened since 2004, although the Lap Dancing Association, which represents dancers' rights, puts the figure at 150.
Women's rights campaigners are losing patience. On Tuesday, the Fawcett Society and Object are staging a meeting next to Parliament, which will call on government to tighten the law. It claims 300 lap dancing clubs have opened since 2004, although the Lap Dancing Association, which represents dancers' rights, puts the figure at 150.
The groups want such clubs reclassified as "sex encounter establishments" - the stricter category for sex shops and sex cinemas. The regulations are much tighter, the local authorities have more power and a licence costs a lot more money.
The groups want such clubs reclassified as "sex encounter establishments" - the stricter category for sex shops and sex cinemas. The regulations are much tighter, the local authorities have more power and a licence costs a lot more money.
The current rules have confused Pamela Keep who has lived in Kensington for 20 years. She doesn't understand why it has become easier for clubs to open in "unsuitable" areas.
The current rules have confused Pamela Keep who has lived in Kensington for 20 years. She doesn't understand why it has become easier for clubs to open in "unsuitable" areas.
Well-run, older clientele
Well-run, older clientele
"I don't think a residential area is a suitable area for a place where sexual gratification is classified as entertainment," says Ms Keep. "The whole point is for the men to get excited."
"I don't think a residential area is a suitable area for a place where sexual gratification is classified as entertainment," says Ms Keep. "The whole point is for the men to get excited."
But at least one official voice - that of the police - rejects residents' concerns that such clubs attract trouble.Lap dancing encompasses table and pole dancing too
But at least one official voice - that of the police - rejects residents' concerns that such clubs attract trouble.Lap dancing encompasses table and pole dancing too
Last month, chief inspector Adrian Studd, of the Metropolitan Police, told MPs "there is no evidence [lap dancing clubs] cause any crime and disorder, or very rarely".
Last month, chief inspector Adrian Studd, of the Metropolitan Police, told MPs "there is no evidence [lap dancing clubs] cause any crime and disorder, or very rarely".
"[T]hey tend to be fairly well-run, they tend to have a fairly high staff ratio to customers, the people who tend to go there tend to be a bit older, so they don't tend to drink so excessively and cause... problems outside."
"[T]hey tend to be fairly well-run, they tend to have a fairly high staff ratio to customers, the people who tend to go there tend to be a bit older, so they don't tend to drink so excessively and cause... problems outside."
A spokeswoman for Passion Nights Ltd, which is behind the plans for the Kensington club, says there is no physical contact between clients and dancers. It is planning stringent security measures.
A spokeswoman for Passion Nights Ltd, which is behind the plans for the Kensington club, says there is no physical contact between clients and dancers. It is planning stringent security measures.
"We're spending money on security cameras on surrounding roads which will alleviate petty crime, and raise the tone of the area. We are hiring qualified door staff too. It will bring jobs in and we expect a higher class of clientele."
"We're spending money on security cameras on surrounding roads which will alleviate petty crime, and raise the tone of the area. We are hiring qualified door staff too. It will bring jobs in and we expect a higher class of clientele."
She says the company has followed protocol and kept to the letter of the law.
She says the company has followed protocol and kept to the letter of the law.
Yet not all councils are as hand-tied as the law might suggest.
Yet not all councils are as hand-tied as the law might suggest.
Blackpool, an entertainment hotspot, has seen a decline in lap dancing clubs. A spokesman for the council says clubs know they "will be inspected regularly and checked to every letter of the law. We only have four or five now; last year we had a dozen."
Blackpool, an entertainment hotspot, has seen a decline in lap dancing clubs. A spokesman for the council says clubs know they "will be inspected regularly and checked to every letter of the law. We only have four or five now; last year we had a dozen."
The Lap Dancing Association says residents are letting their personal morals get in the way of objective decision making.
The Lap Dancing Association says residents are letting their personal morals get in the way of objective decision making.
"Morality should have no place in objective law-making," says the association's secretary Kate Nicholls. "There are no laws broken in these clubs. If you don't like it, don't go in one."
"Morality should have no place in objective law-making," says the association's secretary Kate Nicholls. "There are no laws broken in these clubs. If you don't like it, don't go in one."
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