OBJECTORS to a proposed lap dancing venue in Sheffield city centre were celebrating this week after the scheme was rejected by councillors.
Some protesters staged a demonstration in front of the Town Hall - before permission to turn the Steelhouse bar in West Street, at the back of the City Hall, into a place called Wildcats was refused.
Councillors decided that it was the wrong location for a lap dance club, out of keeping with an area where it was hoped to attract visitors and investors and where there was the potential for disturbing residents with noise and other late night nuisance.
Some critics claimed a sex-orientated venue would put the safety of women at risk, but officers said their recommendation was based on the impact on the area, not on moral grounds.
The application from Leeds-based Harjen Ltd for a venue that stays open until 4am at weekends and 3am during the week prompted a total of 165 objections, including from representation from individuals, Sheffield City Centre Residents Action Group, Sheffield Cathedral, Quaker Meeting House and Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield.
Mr Blomfield raised concerns over noise, anti-social behaviour, safety, the impact on the image of the city and the moral implications.
Peter Sephton, chairman of Sheffield City Centre Residents’ Action Group, said: “This club would reduce the public perception of Sheffield. It would exploit women in a city with over 25,000 female students.”
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