Plans to open a new sex shop in Telford have been met with a storm of opposition and a school fears it could affect its child protection measures.
Opponents of the bid have flooded licensing officials with about 50 letters of objection over plans to open a licensed sex shop at 1A Vineyeard Road, Wellington.
Applicant Nicola Dicken, who runs the Romeo and Juliet sex shop at Ketley Business Park with husband Roger, has applied for the licence to operate the shop. The couple are also seeking to renew the licence for their existing store.
Wellington Town Council has voiced its concerns over schoolchildren being in the vicinity of the proposed site, while other objectors have spoken out on moral grounds.
A letter sent to licensing bosses by Wrekin College says the school is “alarmed” at the proposal, adding that it could undermine expensive child protection measures they have implemented.
Another letter of objection reads: “This is a nice residential area. We do not want the tone of the neighbourhood lowered by such a business as a sex shop.”
Mr Dicken said today: “The reason we have applied for the shop there is because it’s in a mixed use area which is where sex shops must go under council rules.
“Many of the objections are on moral grounds, but there is also talk of schools and children being nearby.
“There are schools and children throughout society. If you look at Shrewsbury, there has been a sex shop across the river from the Wakeman School for years.
“Under-18s will not be allowed into our shop.”
Members of Telford & Wrekin Council’s licensing committee will decide on the application on July 21.
19 Comments
Somebody uses a sex shop and a nearby school is basically terrified of paedophiles using it. Get real: why would a paedophile visit a licensed sex shop? Do we hear all of these complaints about the Anne Summers shops in Telford Town Centre and Shrewsbury? After all, there are children using facilities nearby. Pathetic right wing Mail readers strike again. It’s like living in Saudi Arabia.
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People who visit sex shops are not perv’s or paedophiles, just normal people looking to purchase goods.
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I have to agree with Harold on this, get real people, it’s not as if this is something we don’t all partake in at some time or other. I can’t help but think that all this “must keep sex taboo and hidden under cloak and dagger tactics” only suffice to make youngsters think that it is wrong. Youths of today need to be taught that a healthy safe sex life within sensible adult boundaries is good not bad. Besides, I have personally been in Romeo and Juliet’s and found the owners to be decent polite friendly and helpful people. Why create problems where there are none? Whether we like it or not, sex is here to stay and we all do it, attempting to hide or block such establishments can surely only result in kids thinking safe sex is wrong or bad. As for the assumption that having another shop close to a school will encourage peadophiles, what utter rubbish, that sort hide and will always hide. This kind of shop is aimed at creating a healthy and safe attitude towards sex. I am all in favour!
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Long live Queen Victoria.
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I do not understand where the link between a sex shop and weakened child protection measures comes from. Some people are just plain stupid.
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And there was me thinking we were living in the 21st century.
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The term sex shop is a little wrong I think and just adds to the usual media hype over such matters. The shop doesn’t sell sex, although I’m sure if it did it would take many so called ‘pervs’ off the streets (but that’s another issue) It is merely a shop that sells adult items!
A shop selling adult items to adults that is well run is less dangerous to children and the general public than your average nightclub!
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Will they do home deliveries? - I’m in on Tuesdays & Fridays.
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I have visited Romeo & Juliets in the past and have found Roger & Nicola to be helpful pleasant normal people.
Shock Horror, I actually visited to find normal people browsing.
How is it that Anne Summers gets licences for outlets in ost major towns & cities?
Good Luck to you both, Those not in favour be more educated.
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Sarcasm Jean? lol
This counts for front page news these days? Common… This was front page before and they’ve received all of 50 complaints? Based on how many households in our town?
Sex is an everyday thing of life, I personally find it horrific that we still hold a taboo pushed upon us by the catholic church trying to control people by making it shameful and wrong to talk or even partake in sexual fulfillment. Mainly because sex played a large part in the pagan religions which preceded the dogmatic christianity. Sexually satisfied human beings would not have held the idea of sin and redemption highly.
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Can we please ban all nightclubs as there are horrendous things happening on our doorsteps every night of the week. People dance together, drink together and I once saw two people kissing!!!! I was shocked.
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people in this town are so old fashioned - get over it - its only a sex shop
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Not really the Catholic church fault is it though?
And why does it need to be in this location?
Surely it could be located on a industrial estate somewhere. ie where children walking on way to school do not have to walk by it.
By all means people who wish to go to these type of shops may, but how about a little bit of consideration to young children who have to walk by.
And people wonder why our country is falling apart thesedays with children running riot out of control.
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who cares???
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If this sex shop is allowed to go ahead, I fear that it will encourage more people to have sex who might not have done so otherwise. Such an act should only be done under the supervision of a priest, once in your life, not willy-nilly like this sex shop will encourage.
And won’t somebody please think of the children?!
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Man said “And won’t somebody please think of the children?!”
Hey Man (always wanted to say that), as so many 14/15 year olds in Telford have children of their own these days I suppose you’re right - maybe they should have a special children’s department.
Seriously, the 50 odd complainers should get out and about a bit, and realise that these shops exist in most towns around the country, without being linked to child abuse. Thinking back to the innocent phase of my childhood, I probably would have walked straight past such a shop without knowing what it was selling.
Also, if 50 odd complaints are made in Telford, can we presume that the other 139,950 occupants either don’t care, or in fact support the shop owners proposal.
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we all need to get to the 21st century not backward victorian christian nonesense
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Romeo and juliets advert in the South Shropshire Chronicle this week?? Naughty St. Trinians school girl outfts! case closed.
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It’s better that people buy proper equipment rather than improvise. At least there they will be able to get proper advise on how to use the devices they purchase safely.
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