Sex shop plan unveiled

Plans have been unveiled to open a sex shop in the centre of Wellington.

A planning application has been submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council seeking permission to use 1A Vineyard Road as the sex shop. The owners of Romeo & Juliet's sex shop in Ketley Business Park are behind the application.

However, residents claim the proposal is "inappropriate" and "unnecessary". Wellington Civic Society chairman Ross Vickers said he would be objecting to the application.

"This is completely inappropriate for the area because there are a lot of schoolchildren passing by and it's in a residential area," he said.

But Romeo & Juliet's owner Nicola Dicken defended the scheme.

"All I can really say is that I cannot see how anybody can complain because there is an Ann Summers shop in Telford Town Centre which children walk past," she said.

"While that's not a licensed sex shop, it still hasn't bothered anybody. Our new shop is not going to affect anybody."

Wellington Chamber of Commerce president Dave Riley said: "We are here to encourage all types of businesses into Wellington. If they are perfectly legally, legitimately-operated businesses then we have no right to make any moral judgement against them.

"What I would say, perhaps serious thought needs to be given to this location, particularly as it's close to residential areas."

Objectors have until May 2 to make representations to Telford & Wrekin Council.

A council spokesman said today: "We can confirm we have received an application for a sex establishment licence.

"The required legal notice has been published giving notice for anyone wishing to make a representation to do so in writing to licensing."