Sex shops rules are scrapped
Tough rules banning new sex shops opening in Shrewsbury have been scrapped by councillors. Tough rules banning new sex shops opening in Shrewsbury have been scrapped by councillors. It paves the way for applicants to open controlled premises anywhere in the town. At an angry meeting in the Guildhall yesterday, fears were raised that the move will lead to a "cut-price" frenzy between existing establishments and new stores. At present just one official sex shop is allowed in the town centre but now the borough council's licensing committee will look at each application on its own merits. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
At an angry meeting in the Guildhall yesterday, fears were raised that the move will lead to a "cut-price" frenzy between existing establishments and new stores.
At present just one official sex shop is allowed in the town centre - and that licence is granted to the Private Shop, in Wyle Cop.
But now the borough council's licensing committee will look at each application on its own merits with no automatic restrictions on numbers.
An amendment saying only one shop should be allowed in the town centre and none in the wider borough was defeated by a single vote.
Councillor Judith Williams, head of the licensing committee, said the move to relax the rules was necessary to bring the town into the 21st century. "We have come to a time when we have to start to think about not making a monopoly. I think the best thing is to have everything licensed.
"At the moment we have one licensed store and others that aren't, but they are selling the stuff anyway."
Tory Councillor Eileen Sandford said: "It will mean cut-price wars and others coming in from the fringes."
Labour Councillor Joyce Allaway added: "I think if we have free licensing on the matter it will be to the detriment of society."
But town centre Councillor Andrew Wagner said: "We aren't talking about filling every shop in town with a seedy, dark sex joint. We are talking about letting the committee look at each application separately."
