Sex shop not sexy enough

THE Borders will not be getting its first licensed sex shop after all, as police have ruled the items going on sale from St Valentine’s Day are not raunchy enough to require regulation, writes William Chisholm.

The outlet, to be called Moist, will start trading on Saturday in the stockroom of a Galashiels town centre clothes shop - if ranges of erotic lingerie and sex toys arrive in time.

Since Shona Jackson asked for a sex shop licence as a sideline for Ballisticz, 120 people have signed a petition backing the idea. Only one elderly lady put her name to a rival petition opposing the shop, but several clergymen have urged authorities to block the application.

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Ms Jackson yesterday: "I was told we did not need official permission to retail items like the ones you see in the Ann Summers catalogue. We are free to sell lingerie etc, but I’ve told the police they are welcome to come to the shop on a regular basis to check everything is above board.

"The reaction since our plans were made public has been quite fantastic, with overwhelming numbers of people in favour."

According to David Quinn, the Galashiels area offices manager at Scottish Borders Council:

"There will be no really sexually explicit material or aids. The applicant describes it as an Ann Summers-type shop but on a smaller scale. The Edinburgh Ann Summers shop is not licensed either."