Lap dancing clubs banned in Northamptonshire town

Lap dancing clubs and other types of sexual entertainment venues have been banned in a Northamptonshire town.

Licences will be not given to any business in Wellingborough planning to run shows that include nudity to "sexually stimulate".

The decision follows a six-week public consultation during which no opposition was lodged. While the consultation went ahead a temporary ban was put in place.

Council leader Paul Bell said: "It goes to show we made the right decision."

Amanda Wilcox, principal health protection manager at the council, said that appeals against a decision to turn down a licence would go to the magistrates' court.

The council also plans to try to reduce the number of nights which establishments can stage nude shows without a licence - currently the government allows venues to stage 12 nights a year without requiring a licence.

Councillor Peter Morrall, who chaired the Community Committee meeting on Monday night, said that if a number of establishments took advantage of the allowance then it could negate the new law.

Council leader Paul Bell proposed that the committee write to the county's MPs to try to reduce the figure.