Last week, the club owner withdrew his application for a 24 hour licence that included strip-tease and table-dancing. This is a tremendous result for us all. Your local councillors are in no doubt that this application was withdrawn because of the strength of local opposition. Thank you very much for being part of this important campaign. We could not achieved this without such a strong, united community campaign. We totally disproved all those who said that there is nothing that councillors and communities can do to stop strip and lap-dancing clubs opening. Thank you very much.
We will however need to be vigilant of future attempts to open similar clubs. We also need residents to contribute to the Council\'s review of Licensing Policy (see web-link on the right for more details)
This consultation is open until 30th September. We hope that you will write in with your views. Your local councillors will be campaigning for a tighter licensing policy than Southwark now has. We are especially opposed to adult entertainment being permitted near schools, community and recreational facilities, places of worship and residential areas. We are also seeking a policy where residents are given more information about licensing proposals.
Again, our most sincere thanks for everything you did to help,
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WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, wish to object to the application for a licence to operate a 24 hour table dancing (lap dancing) club at Blues Night Club, 43 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5EB (ref. 9892).
AS RESIDENTS OF PECKHAM AND CAMBERWELL who live within walking distance of Peckham High Street, who shop at local shops on Peckham High Street and Rye Lane, and many of whom have children who go to local schools and visit local facilities and shops, we object on the following grounds:
1. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN: The club is only metres away from two schools, the Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre, Peckhams award-winning Library, and Peckham Square. Large numbers of children and young people therefore visit and pass through - and wait for buses in the immediate vicinity of the club. Numerous other schools are a short distance away. There is a likelihood that children passing the premises would be aware of external advertising material, and of the purpose of the club, as well as coming into contact with patrons who are visiting for the express purpose of experiencing close proximity nude dancing, and possibly other sexual services, who we do not regard as visitors likely to bring benefit to Peckham. Our children are entitled to a childhood and not to be sexualised at an inappropriate or early age by becoming aware of sexually motivated activities such as table/lap dancing and striptease.
2. COMMUNITY SAFETY: Women living, working and shopping near the premises may fear and in fact be subject to - increased harassment and crime. Lap dancing normalises the exploitation of women for sexual purposes and in some areas has been linked to prostitution and trafficking of women.
3. NUISANCE: A 24-hour operation of any kind attracting the public throughout both day and night is not appropriate for a small town centre so integrated into adjacent residential areas. The resulting pedestrian and vehicle traffic and comings and goings on the street will cause nuisance to residents.
4. ROAD SAFETY: The highway near 43 Peckham High Street is the site of a junction, traffic lights, a bus lane and bus stops, with red route restrictions and light controlled pedestrian crossings. Vehicles dropping off and picking up patrons will cause road safety problems and traffic congestion, while the pavement is narrow in many places and unable to accommodate large numbers of people..
WE THEREFORE BELIEVE THAT:
The nature of a table dancing/lap dancing club so near to schools, shoppers, residential areas and busy roads and pavements is inappropriate;
Both the proposed 24 hour operations AND this use could have a damaging effect on the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of nuisance, and the protection of children from harm;
Such a club would hinder the efforts to clean up Peckham High Street and the town centre and would deter good quality investment by other businesses;
AND WE ASK SOUTHWARK COUNCIL TO REFUSE THE APPLICATION FOR THIS LICENCE, WHETHER FOR 24 HOUR OPERATION OR AT ALL.
This petition will be submitted to Southwark Council by the deadline for objections to the licensing application of 08 August 2006.
Address required as objectors must live near the premises.