Legal bid to strip the city of lap dance bars

Published on Monday 19 April 2010 09:56

MSPs are being asked to bring in a new law which would allow councils to ban lap-dancing.

SNP backbencher Sandra White has tabled an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill currently going through the Scottish Parliament to give local authorities the power to set a limit on the number of lap-dancing venues.

And Ms White, a list MSP from Glasgow, believes that limit should be zero.

Her move follows complaints from Glasgow City Council that current licensing legislation does not allow them to ban- lap-dancing. Edinburgh has traditionally had a more liberal attitude on the issue. Ms White said her proposals would leave it to local councils to decide for themselves on any ban.

&#149 Should there be a limit set on the number of lap-dance clubs in the city? Vote here

But she said: "I would hope other councils would take that opportunity if it passes. There are people in Edinburgh who wish Edinburgh would follow the lead of Glasgow and clamp down on these venues. It will be up to them to pressure the council to do that."

Ms White said lap-dancing was demeaning to women. "It's the wrong way for women to be perceived by men. I went to lap dancing clubs and I asked the men if they would like their girlfriend or their sister to be doing it and they said no. It's double standards."

She is optimistic about the chances of her amendment being accepted. The parliament's justice committee has invited written evidence on the issue by 27 April.

Michelle Lowe, prevention network officer at the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust in Edinburgh, backed the amendment.

She said: "Lap-dancing clubs are a form of commercial sexual exploitation and they feed into a culture which objectifies women and adds to a culture of gender inequality and condoning violence against women.

"This amendment would allow progressive councils to tackle this form of violence against women and set an example which we hope all other local authorities would follow. We have to stop pretending lap-dancing clubs are a 'harmless form of entertainment' and start facing up to the fact that they are part of the sex industry – they are about people sexually and financially exploiting women."

But Ann Wigglesworth, of Tollcross Community Council, said: "A zero policy is unrealistic and would just push the business underground."

Tory councillor Jeremy Balfour, who sits on the licensing board, added: "We must look at this on a case-by-case scenario, rather than a blanket approach."

Alex Smith, manager of the Sapphire Rooms, in Lothian Road, one of seven lap-dancing venues in the city, said the council was already very strict on licences and claimed Ms White's amendment would not change anything.

He said: "The lap-dancing clubs bring tourists into Edinburgh and we have several stag groups every Saturday night from around the UK spending money. These people are bringing money into the economy through restaurant, bars and hotel costs."