Concerns raised on Shrewsbury lap-dancing move

Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council member Andrew Bannerman said he is concerned an increase in sessions at the Source Bar in Barker Street will be detrimental to the town.

Councillor Bannerman told a meeting of Shrewsbury Town Council's planning committee that he feels the club's location, which is close to university accommodation, is not appropriate.

The councillor, who represents the Quarry and Coton Hill ward, said: "There's a difference between the occasional Thursday and every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"Especially with the growth of the university, the nearby Claremont Baptist Church and police are unhappy about it," he said.

"We are setting ourselves up to offer regular sexual entertainment this side of Birmingham.

"There are only three places in the West Mercia Police area that are licensed for this sort of entertainment and the other two places are in Warwickshire.

"I don't think that's the image Shrewsbury wants to project that's why I'm objecting."

The committee, which met on Tuesday considered the bar's application to allow lap-dancing from 9pm to 3am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Currently the club has a licence to run lap-dancing evenings on Thursdays only.

Despite Councillor Bannerman's fears, the town council committee raised no objections.

Earlier this week, Councillor Bannerman branded the move as "unfortunate" and "damaging" for the image of the town.

He said that because there are only three places licensed for lap-dancing in the West Mercia area – two of which are in Warwickshire – Shrewsbury was "setting ourselves up, by inference, as a sex entertainment capital this side of Birmingham".

He also said he was concerned about the combination of lap-dancing evenings and the late-night drinking industry.

The bar has declined to comment on the plans.

As objections have been raised in regards to the plans, a hearing on the application is likely to be heard on January 13 next year, Shropshire Council said.