Sex shops bid to renew licences

Shrewsbury's only two licensed sex shops have applied for a 12-month renewal of their licenses.

The Private Shop in Wyle Cop and SX Warehouse at Harlescott have applied to the borough council.

They are the only town outlets allowed by law to sell R18 rated DVDs.

Peter Hughes, who owns SX Warehouse, at Greenwood Industrial Estate, with business partner Mark Haines, became the second licensed sex shop in the town last year following a long-running battle.

The business had been operating without a licence for 18 months, selling a range of lingerie and sex toys.

But the licence allowed it to sell R18 DVDs.

It came after Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council scrapped rules banning sex shops from opening.

Mr Haines's wife Lyn, said there had been no problems since acquiring the licence and they had therefore decided to reapply.

She said: "It had taken us a while to get the last one and this is just a straightforward renewal.

"We have had no problems and not one complaint from the public."

Asked whether trade had improved since the licence was granted last year, she said: "Yes it has, it's also given the people of Shrewsbury another chance so that rather than just being stuck with one in the town they have now got a choice where they shop."

Darker Enterprises Ltd said it had applied for a renewal of the licence for the Private Shop, the first shop in the town to receive one.

Representations concerning either application should be made in writing to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council.