Hove residents' alarm at lap dancing application
20 December 2007
Residents in the Poets Corner area of Hove have expressed dismay at proposals for the Portland Hotel to become a lap dancing venue until 4.30am.
The pub’s application to Brighton & Hove City Council's Licensing department was in danger of slipping through unnoticed until it was brought to light last Friday (14th December) by Green Party councillor Ian Davey, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hove constituency.
Ian (pictured left), who lives c.100 yards from the venue, acted quickly with local residents to produce 50 letters and a 150-signature petition in just four days.
These were delivered to the Town Hall in time to meet the deadline for objections at the end of today (Tuesday 18 December).
Ian said, "Local residents are shocked and scared by this move by the pub management to set up a pole and lap dancing establishment on their doorstep.
"This is a generally peaceful residential area, yet local people, like many others in the city, are suffering more and more sleepless nights as a result of ever later licenses.
"They fear that this will only worsen should this outrageous proposal to allow lap dancing late into the morning be granted.
"If the Portland Hotel proceeds with this application in the face of overwhelming local opposition we will be calling on the Licensing Panel to reject it out of hand.
"Many residents were happy to live near pubs that closed at 11pm. They were generally considerate neighbours and formed part of the local community. Since the liberalisation of the licensing laws, things have changed.
"The Government’s ill thought out changes to licensing laws, together with the new smoking ban, have combined to make residents’ lives a nightmare throughout the city.
"Once peaceful pubs are now open later and later, with people hanging around outside smoking and spilling out onto the streets often until the early hours, as pubs, clubs and off licences compete for longer opening hours.
“It has got to stop. We are calling on the Labour government to rethink their licensing laws and listen to people, rather than just big business, and give power back to local residents to decide what happens in their communities," Ian explained.
Notes to editors:
For further information, contact Lizzie Deane, External Communications Co-ordinator, on 07899 843206.[ENDS]
