Cheltenham strip club asks council to renew its license

If approved, it would be the second licensed Sexual Entertainment Venue to open during this year's Cheltenham Festival

A controversial bid to renew a strip club's licence is expected to be decided this week.

European Events Consults Limited currently has a license to operate its sexual entertainment Venue (SEV) at Under The Prom in Cheltenham.

The application would renew the licence until 2025, allowing it to operate during popular horse racing weeks.

Cheltenham Borough Council is expected to consider the proposals at their meeting on 17 January.

If approved, it would be the second licensed sexual entertainment venue allowed to open during Cheltenham Festival this year.

The subject of sex clubs that spring up during the festival has been a controversial one

However, the proposals have been met with strong opposition from women's rights groups and MP Alex Chalk with a total of 12 letters of objection being lodged while 48 people support the proposals.

The Nelson Trust, which helps women who have often turned to sex, drugs, drink or crime, because of traumatic childhood experiences, is among those against the SEV.

"There are strong links between lap dancing and selling sex, with a UK Home Office report finding that the majority of lap dancers also sell sex," they say in their objection.

MP Alex Chalk said the council has the power to refuse the application and says the proposed venue is situated amongst other "non-related businesses".

"Having an SEV located near to these other businesses, especially with operational times to begin at 20:00, is wholly inappropriate.

"It is entirely feasible that families with children may be in the area at this time," he added.

'Safety for all'

However, people who wrote in favour of the licence renewal explained how impressed they are with how the venue is run.

One said the organisers are a credit to Cheltenham for going above and what is expected.

"Having witnessed the positive and negative side to this sort of entertainment, regulating and controlling this sort of entertainment can only be a positive."

Another supporter said such a licensed venue "provides a far greater level of safety for all".