We asked for your views on a row about the licencing of lapdancing clubs in Leeds.
To read the full story, click here.To add to the debate, click here.YOUR VIEWSI suspect Leeds has currently got too many lap dancing clubs for them all to prosper and two2 or three will close down in time anyway but this licensing business is just an excuse for the forces of prudery to ban something again.
People like Object spin " the same licensing as a Starbucks" when in fact a fairer description would be " the same licensing as a nightclub, cabaret club, gay bar, or late night music venue".
I'm not sure I belive the woman's experiences at 5.15 am at the railway station was anything to do lap dance patrons, which is the club near the station? The new Purple Door hasn't opened yet, there is of course a large normal nightclub opposite the Queens, where the rowdys from there I wonder?
I asked Leeds Police about how lap dancing clubs compared to disco type places in terms of trouble and disturbance in 2006 and they told me that there are six venues in Leeds (Blue Leopard, Red Leopard, Blue Coyote, Buffalo lounge, DV8, and Purple Door) plus two in Wakefield (Wildcats and Jailbirds. In 2005 these clubs had a total of six visits an average of less than one per club. In contrast five conventional Leeds city centre nightclubs had a total of 120 visits, an average of 21 each.
Bill
Doncaster
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The views expressed on lap dancing clubs - well come on, we have brothels all over Leeds (well known to everyone including the police). They are on the whole a well run night club and of the strictest of rules and anyone breaking the rules and operating outside of them offering sex for sale should be hit hard.
I don't have any objection to them at all and would not have any objection if there were the same for females wanting a male lap dance. Or is that the problem because they are aimed at the male client?
Phil
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I think it is discusting how many lapdancing clubs there are in leeds- especially the amount around the train station. My friends were walking home from a night out the other night at 5.15 AM and people were standing outside a lapdancing club smoking and propositioning us! how discusting.
Also I think this new 1million pound club right next door to the train station entrance is an awful and unreasonable idea; as normal people including young children use that entrance on a daily basis and we dont want to contantly walk past a discusting "sex" club. what sort of message is this portraying!
Also it will not be very safe to walk by in the evenings as many of the clubs 'customers' will be standing outside smoking and hollering at young girls etc. it will not make for a safe environment. I walk through the train station at night to get home because I feel it is a safer envirnment, as it is all lit up etc instead of walking round the side of it. However I WONT ( and many others will agree) feel safe having to walk past a bunch of people possibly wanting some "action" whether this is being insulted by coments made by them or propositions. this could result in much more dangerous situations.
anon.
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I very much agree with the campaign to relicense lap dancing clubs. It just seems like common sense to give local authorities and residents a say in whether/how many of these places they want in their area. It is of course an entirely different thing to have a lap dancing club down your local street than to have a cafe. The existence of these clubs, particlularly on the high street, cannot be married with a society which wants to promote equality and respect for its citizens. Good luck with the campaign, Object!
anna read
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