New lap dancing venue may open in Grantham

Mon 21 Dec 2009

A new lap dancing venue could be set to open in Grantham within a fortnight after an application was submitted to local authorities.

Johnny Askham, owner of the Viennas cafe bar, is seeking permission to turn his establishment into a lap dancing club.

According to South Kesteven District Council, all of the windows on the premises will be blacked out, while door staff will operate a rigorous age checks on customers.

Pam Robinson, licensing officer at the authority, told the Grantham Journal that all the legal conditions for turning the premises into a lap dancing establishment have now been met.

This means that the application will go through in its current form, unless members of the local community object.

People living in the area have until the end of the month to lodge a protest, although South Kesteven District Council has reminded opponents they cannot object solely on moral grounds.

Robert Botkai, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood, said: "Objectors need to formulate representations based on the four licensing objectives, crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm.

"Any other representations will be ruled out."

This comes shortly after the Policing and Crime Act, which includes measures to tighten up the regulation of lap dancing clubs by reclassifying them as sex establishments, received Royal Assent last month.