Green candidate leads demo against lap dancing venue
13 January 2008
Ian Davey, the Greens’ prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove, joined residents in the Portland Road area to protest against proposals to turn a hotel into a lap dancing venue.
Residents first became aware of the licence application by the Portland Hotel just five days before the deadline for representations on 18 December.
They submitted over 50 letters of objection together with a petition with 150 names.
As a result, the application will now be decided by a panel of city councillors at Brighton Town Hall.
Derek Rist, Chair of the Marmion Road Residents Association, said, "This is very much a family area; local residents work hard to make this a safe and secure place to live.
“Introducing this kind of activity into a regeneration area will undermine all our efforts.
“We’re not against the pub, but these hours and these activities are inappropriate for a residential area. We are asking the landlord to withdraw this application now."
Ian (pictured left) is the Green councillor for St Peters & North Laine Ward and lives close by.
He said, "Portland Road is finally starting to emerge from a period of decline, partly as a result of its status as a regeneration area, which has helped bring environmental improvements.
“This has attracted new businesses and many new families into what is now becoming a thriving community.
“Residents fear that turning this pub, in the heart of their community, into a late night lap dancing establishment will halt this progress in its tracks.
“If the landlord does not withdraw his application, we’ll be asking the councillors on the licensing panel to turn it down.
"If this application is allowed, it won’t be the last.
“As pubs and clubs compete with each other for a finite market, we will undoubtedly see similar applications from other venues across the city.
“Is this the sleazy city by the sea that we want to live in?"
Notes to editors:
For further information, please contact Lizzie Deane, Green Party External Communications Co-ordinator, on 07899 843206[ENDS]
