An application for a sex entertainment venue in a rural Welsh town has been unanimously rejected by the Council’s licensing committee.
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, a number of objectors urged the committee in Merthyr Tydfil, a small town situated in South Wales, not to grant a license for the venue in such close proximity to local community buildings and a church.
The committee agreed that the venue would be inappropriate, and rejected the application on 9 August.
'Consider impact on future development'
Jon Payne, a specialist licensing solicitor who represented a number of the objectors, also urged the committee to consider the impact on future development in the area should the licence be granted.
The committee had already determined that there should be no sex entertainment venues in the area and it decided that the present application should not be an exception to this.
The committee’s notice of determination notice also said that the area could have become a 'no-go area' for the community if the application were granted: "The applicant was not able to provide evidence and was therefore unable to demonstrate that the granting of a SEV of this type would not lead to the locality becoming a no go area for families, church goers, concert goers and women generally."
Resistance to sex clubs in rural areas
Ralph Pulman, who contacted the Christian Legal Centre for support, commented that while many of the larger towns and cities have sex clubs, there appears to be a "push" for them to be introduced to more rural areas and this is something which must be resisted.
Commenting on yesterday’s result, he said: "Thank you for all you’ve done to help... Mr Payne was knowledgeable and very professional... He handled the hearing superbly."
Mr Pulman and the other objectors have now written to the Council to request an invitation to be consulted on preparing a policy on sex entertainment venues.
'We thank God for this'
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: "We are delighted with yesterday’s result and thank God for this. We have a proven track record of helping people to successfully object to sex club applications. It is so important for people to take a stand against these sorts of premises. We are pleased to be able to provide expert professional assistance and the resources to inform and empower people to take that stand."
The Christian Legal Centre has won a number of cases related to resisting sex entertainment venues.
For information on how to object to a sex entertainment venue, consult our online booklet.
Related links:
Plans for a pole-dancing club are thrown out because of fears it would create a 'no go area' for the community (Wales Online)
Watch: Lowestoft churches successfully campaign against sex establishments
Victory in Lowestoft sex shop case