2,000 protest at lapdance club near primaries

A PLAN to open a lapdancing club in a residential area of west London has sparked huge protests.

So far 2,000 people have signed a petition against proposals for a champagne bar and club with 50 booths with naked lapdancing in West Kensington.

The venue, expected to be called the Kensington Suite, would be in the former Fox Tavern in North End Road and near several schools.

Meanwhile, a wider campaign by London Councils is under way calling for licensing laws to be changed to make it harder for lapdancing clubs to open in unsuitable locations.

At present, any holder of an entertainment licence granted under the 2003 Licensing Act can stage nude entertainment without requiring further permission. Under the previous rules, specific approval was needed.

The new owners of the West Kensington property, Passion Nights Ltd, have hired former Stringfellows stripper Ellouise Moore to be the dancers' manager. Ms Moore, 28, who has written a book about her experiences, has said she expects the club to attract "footballers, brokers and bankers".

The venue will offer valet parking and in an advert for dancers it is described as "an elegant and upmarket club and champagne bar".

The advert also claims "a host of footballers have already booked tables for our opening night!"

Local resident Rachel Marlowe, 34, who is leading the protests, said: "It is a completely unsuitable area to have a lapdancing club. There are two primary schools, three nurseries and an all-girls senior school within 200 metres.

"The bus stop is right outside and women do not want to be propositioned by drunk customers having a cigarette. We are worried about prostitution, drug-dealing and late-night noise."London Councils, which represents the capital's 33 local authorities, wants lapdancing venues to be treated as "sex encounter establishments" for licensing purposes.

The Licensing Act 2003 took away town halls' discretionary powers, and London Councils is warning ministers that unless they amend the law, councils will be powerless to prevent strip clubs opening in virtually any pub or bar.

Merrick Cockell, leader of London Councils, said: "Thanks to the 2003 Act, we currently have little or no recourse to prevent these establishments cropping up in sensitive areas in our community.

"We recognised this problem a few years ago and have already begun to take action. London Councils deposited a private Bill to Parliament the 10th London Local Authorities Bill which seeks to reinstate the discretionary powers to impose conditions on entertainment licences lost to councils through the 2003 Act."

A spokeswoman for the new club said: "We have agreed to meet residents over their concerns. It is a high-end establishment, costing £2 million.

"We have spent a substantial amount on security, including installing cameras outside the club. The club will not open until 7pm and therefore will not overlap with the school times."

The application will be discussed at a Hammersmith and Fulham council meeting on 6 November.