Cornwall policy consultation database sex establishment policy – 28 July to 20 October 2010

Ms D (18)	23 Sept 2010	I would like to register my total shock that any one in there right mind would suggest that Lapdance Clubs should be allowed in Cornwall. I have an impressionable teenage son who I do not wish to ever believe that women should be viewed as sex objects, which is all that these clubs do. Please do not ruin Newquay any more than it already has been & do not allow them any where in Cornwall. I would like to register my vote to be ZERO clubs in Cornwall. I am afraid that I can not attend the public meeting.
Redruth Town Council (20)	26 Oct 2010	Following last night’s meeting of Redruth Town Council, I have been asked to write to Cornwall Council’s Miscellaneous Licensing Committee saying that Town Council Members want no further increase in the number of sex establishments in the Redruth Town Council area.
Camborne Town Council (26)	30 Sept 2010	The above consultation document was received by members of Camborne Town Council at its Planning Committee meeting held on the 27th September 2010. At this meeting members discussed at length the document and implications of the consultation. Following this discussion it was resolved as follows: that Camborne Town Council recommend a zero limit in the commercial area (as defined by the Draft Kerrier Local Plan 2004) of the town due to the high level and density of fast food and takeaway establishments within that area which would preclude the sustainable integration of this type of entertainment by reason of the different clientele using such establishments. Update – Following discussion it was resolved as follows:- to confirm a zero limit for all types of sex establishment, namely lap dancing, sex shops and sex cinemas.
Mr D – Newquay (32)	07 Oct 2010	I am writing to request that you set the cap for the number of lap dancing clubs to zero.   I used to be a regular visitor to Newquay and further afield in Cornwall. I currently will not visit with my friends and their young children because of the 'stag' culture and expansion of the commercial sex industry in the town. Please make Cornwall the beautiful attractive holiday destination it should be, so that we can resume our holidays to the area.
Dr M (33)	08 Oct 2010	The new licensing legislation offers the opportunity to the Council to be proactive in its duty to promote gender equality, and to have due regard to the need to eliminate harassment and discrimination.  The Council is a public body and its role is to consider the negative or positive social impact that its decisions and policies have.  In our current culture, venues offering 'sexual entertainment' where the 'entertainment' is women's bodies and the 'entertained' are men, promote the idea that the primary value of women resides in their supposed sexual attractiveness and that it is perfectly right and normal for men to objectify women in this way.  It is not right and it should not be normal.  The stark statistics concerning male violence against women, and the sexual harassment of women by men, do not show us that it is 'natural' for men to be violent towards women and to disrespect women.  Rather, they show us that our cultural context is one that encourages these behaviours.  Public bodies have a role to play in helping to change that cultural context, just as in the past, local and national government played a key role in changing the context where it was assumed (until 1918/1928) that only men should have the right to vote, or that - once married - men could rape their wives within the law (until 1991). The essential factor to be taken into account in the development of an SEV policy is the negative impact on women, and on women’s equality – made by SEVs.  This impact is both general – in its contribution to the normalising of the commercial sexualisation of women which erodes women’s equality with men – and specific in that: "lap dancing and exotic dancing clubs make women feel threatened or uncomfortable” (Royal Town Planning Institute Guide on Gender and Spatial Planning) psychological trauma, substance abuse and sexual assault are rife among women who work in SEVs (e.g. Holsopple: 100% of 18 women interviewed had been sexually assaulted by customers; see also www.object.org.uk’s Stripping the Illusion resource pages and film). Any gender impact assessment of the operation of SEVs would be bound to demonstrate unmitigable negative impact upon women.  Therefore in order to eliminate the negative impact of SEVs the appropriate number to be set is nil. I call upon the Council to implement a nil cap on SEVs in all areas under its jurisdiction.
Community Safety Partnership (36)	08 Oct 2010	Set numerical value for the night time economy area of Newquay at zero.
Ms P (37)	09 Oct 2010	I used to be a frequent visitor to Newquay when I was growing up in Devon.  I liked the atmosphere, the choice of bars and restaurants on offer and the people it attracted. If I visit Newquay now, it is to see friends only and we do not go out into the centre.  If I want to visit a Cornish town with beautiful views, a relaxed atmosphere and good bars and restaurants, I go to Padstow, Fowey or St Ives.  I lived in Cheshire for ten years and whenever anyone asked me where to visit in Cornwall I would always advise them to avoid Newquay.  The last time I was in Newquay visiting friends I had to pass through the town centre.  I was appalled to see the a huge lap dancing club on full view in the town centre (I believe that this has recently been stripped of its licence) and I found the groups of men marauding the town quite intimidating. The amusement arcades and the lap dancing clubs are resonant of Blackpool - the notoriously tacky favourite of stag and hen parties, except that Newquay has a reputation of just attracting stag parties.  However, this reputation will eventually backfire as even the stag parties will want to go to other towns & cities where there is a greater mix of people (this is based on conversations with male friends & colleagues who have complained at the fact that the town centre was full of stag nights when they have visited). It is hard to believe that such a beautiful town has been degraded to this extent.  The national reputation of Newquay is such now that it attracts one type of visitor (stag parties) at the expense of other visitors (families, couples) and this perpetuates its reputation as being somewhere suited only to stag parties. I would like to see the town stripped of all the lap dancing clubs and, to this end, I am asking that Cornwall County Council adopts a nil cap for the town centre and for all other wards in and around Newquay.  I believe that this is the only way that Newquay will discourage the intimidating stag parties and encourage other visitors.  This will eventually improve its image both locally and nationally. From a personal point of view, I find the whole concept of lap dancing unacceptable in 2010.  I find it surprising that Newquay Town Council has allowed the lap dancing clubs to be situated in such prominent locations and with such inappropriate signage in the town centre.  It indicates a disregard for other visitors to the town who do not want to be exposed to the commercial se.x industry on the high street. Please adopt a nil cap in the SEV policy.  Newquay could be so much than it is.
Ms P – St Austell (38)	09 Oct 2010	Although I am pleased that the strict regulation & monitoring of lap-dancing clubs in Cornwall is working, I feel very strongly that we need to re-consider what type of tourism we want to attract in the County. Cornwall has a wide reputation as an excellent "family holiday" area. We have already seriously endangered that reputation with images of Newquay, & I am convinced that to make Cornwall a "Zero-zone", - as I understand some London boroughs have done, - will not only add to our effectiveness as a family holiday area, but will better reflect the sort of community that we are to those who are moving to Cornwall in great numbers from city centre areas. I do hope that there will be opportunity during this consultation to consider making Cornwall a "zero-zone" in relation to lap-dance clubs & sex shops.
Ms H (39)	10 Oct 2010	I understand that Cornwall County Council is debating whether to consider a cap on Sex Establishment Venues and, if so, whether that cap should be set at nil. I would like to ask that a cap should be set and that it should be nil.  I have some great memories of Cornwall from when I visited as a child and I have been looking to visit again.  Financial issues have prevented me doing so this year but I have been looking towards 2011 and to know that lapdancing and stripping clubs were banned there would be a tremendous boost to my plans.  Having been harassed along with my sister and my then seven year old niece as a direct result of a lapdancing club in Greater Manchester, I have a horror of these venues and a real fear for my safety in the vicinity of them.  It would be wonderful to feel that I could visit Cornwall - and it's the most beautiful county - knowing that women were valued and that women's equality and safety was a priority.
Ms W – Bodmin (40)	11 Oct 2010	Every effort should be made within the present unsatisfactory, permissive law, to designate localities with a limit of NIL. I understand that efforts are being made to open sex establishments in villages in the UK.
Mr T - Newquay Christian Centre (41)	11 Oct 2010	I am writing to you to ask that you consider setting the cap of Lap Dancing Licences in Newquay at zero. The reason for my objection to lap dancing establishments is the potential damaging effects it has on the lives of many vulnerable young people in the town. I work for a Church in Newquay that operates a number of projects for young people, including a supported housing project for vulnerable young men aged 16-24. Many of the young men that we work with come from disadvantaged backgrounds, unfortunately many have faced horrendous abusive circumstances, even of a sexual nature. As you can imagine, many of these young men need a lot of support through these issues and unfortunately some have developed inappropriate forms of sexual behaviour and attitudes that we spend time trying to rectify. These issues have been compounded by the close proximity of several Lap dancing establishments in the town centre, many of whom, especially during the summer months and weekends, adopt a heavy marketing and touting tactics (girls on the street). My concern is that even if tighter restrictions were imposed on their licences, many of these clubs in my opinion are inappropriately located, some of them have prominent ‘Shop Front’ locations along the busy streets of Newquay, which only re-affirms the inappropriate values that many for these young men have adopted. Some of the young men that we have supported in the past have been enticed by the girls and drawn by the prominent locations to visit these establishments and I am greatly concerned that this would have a negative impact on the valuable work we are doing. In addition to my concern for some of the more vulnerable younger people in our town, I also like to see a nil cap on these clubs as, especially in the light of their prominent location, they do nothing to lift the current poor reputation that Newquay has. In the greater interests and overall reputation of the town, I would ask that you consider setting the cap at Zero. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you want to talk this through, I would be very happy to discuss this with a member of the committee, for what it is worth I would really like to commend you for the hard work you do in managing some of the difficult decision that will shape and define the future of the town.
St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council (42)	15 Oct 2010	St Stephen-in-Brannel Parish covers the villages of, St Stephen, Coombe, Treviscoe, Whitemoor, Nanpean, Foxhole and High Street/Lanjeth. This Council  proposes Zero establishments for the Parish of St Stephen  as there are no suitable areas for such establishments to be sited. Update - Please find below additional information for St Stephen-in-Brannel Parish Councils to support the above. No suitable retail sites.  The villages of Whitemoor, High Street/Lanjeth, Coombe, Treviscoe  do not have a shop, pub or any retail areas.  St Stephen, Whitemoor, Foxhole and Nanpean have Schools and this could contravene licensing laws regarding the protection of children. Small villages in rural area roads would not take any extra traffic. Out of keeping with area.
Mr & Mrs B – Newquay (44)	13 Oct 2010 & 15 Oct 2010	13 Oct - We wish to register our wishes that you set the number of lap dancing  venues allowed in Newquay at zero.  There is no need for these clubs as they encourage lewd behaviour outside of the clubs.  There are more than enough drinking establishments in Newquay which the hens and stag parties can enjoy and the lap lancing is a totally unnecessary element which degrades women and, normally, only men frequent.  The people we want to encourage back to Newquay are the families who actually spend money in the town but are put off from coming here by Newquay's reputation as a party town.  Those who have been have stated that they won't come again as they feel unable to go into the town in the evenings.  Locals no longer go into town at night.  Our daughter has had lewd remarks aimed at her during the day, and she is a married woman with two children!  There are drunken men wandering our streets at all hours of the day and night, disturbing residents, fighting shouting and who knows what else they get up to.  These people do not add to the local economy as during the day they are asleep and at night they are lining the pockets of the club owners. They do not spend money in the town.  The girls who work in these clubs have to pay the owners for the "privilege" and are being exploited.  The recent publicity over one such club should show that the residents of this town are against these establishments and want our town brought back to the lovely place it used to be. 15 Oct - Unfortunately, we will be away at the time of the meeting on 10th November, but would reiterate our feelings regarding the number of  "sexual entertainment venues" being set at zero.  The area we are particularly concerned about is Newquay town centre as there is more than enough " night time entertainment" which appears to cater for a certain group already, and as mentioned previously,  local residents and most holidaymakers feel intimidated when venturing into the town in the evenings. The groups of marauding "lads" cause enough trouble when they have been drinking without also being sexually stimulated.  We live in sheltered accommodation very close to the town centre and are subjected to the noise, the obscene language, the fighting and the property damage caused by people leaving the town centre at all hours to get back to their accommodation. Sexual Entertainment Venues are not something that this town needs,as they only put money into the pockets of the owners and do nothing for the local economy.  We need family entertainment, something that everyone can enjoy in the town in the evenings and brings money to the ordinary local businesses, and not be catering for a minority group who can probably find these venues in their home towns.  The nature of Newquay is such that there are a lot of private residences in, and very close to, the town centre, after all it was just a fishing village, and per head of population it appears that we did have a larger ratio of these venues than London!  The only premises available for these clubs are amongst the residences and shops and on the roads leading to our beautiful beaches where the genuine tourists are walking, not a great image however well they are disguised.
Ms P – Newquay (45)	13 Oct 2010	With regard to the above consultation I would ask the licencing committee to set a cap of zero licences for lap dancing in central Newquay. There are many reasons why the establishments which provide lap dancing as entertainment are unsuitable for Newquay. One of my main concerns is for the children who visit or live in the town. Having the clubs in the centre of town means that it is virtually impossible to avoid passing them at one time or another for instance when going to the shops, on the way to and from school  or children's clubs, dance classes, beaches and parks. Local children in particular are exposed to the totally inappropriate behaviour  and language of the type of vistors- often stag groups- attracted by the clubs.These groups remain in the town after visiting the clubs the night before and are causing a nuissance  everywhere next day, on the beaches in the shops and in the  streets. In addition there are the club promotion girls in the streets  from early evening onwards.Lap dancing clubs promote the idea of selling the viewing of women's bodies as entertainment as if that is all a woman is worth.  Our children should not be forced to grow up in a town where these things are accepted as normality.    There have been many instances where young women have been sexually harrassed  near these clubs. There is a real sense of fear among many women at night in the town.The clubs promote the idea that women are sexually available and I believe that some men leaving the clubs in a state of arousal especially  after drinking, are more likely to harrass women outside the club. Research has shown that this type of harrassment increases in areas where lap dancing clubs have opened. A survey in Camden showed that when comparing the numbers of rapes in the  3 years before a lap dancing club opened  with those that occurred after 4 lap dancing clubs opened, there was an increase of 50% for rapes plus an increase of 57% in levels of harrassment.   We will have the under 18s (ExodusScheme) here again next year for a month in the Summer. The council has a duty of care towards these visiting youngsters too. A geart deal of money has been spentin trying to protect them from falling over cliffs , by putting up safety barriers etc. They need to be protected from sexual predators too.   Newquay's image and reputation has been damaged by the presence of lap dancing clubs. The town is desperate to repair the damage done by the adverse publicity caused in no small measure by the publicity in a TV programme about one of the lap dancin clubs. Many businesses are working very hard to attract the sort of tourist the town really needs; inparticular the family trade. These are the very visitors who will be deterred from coming to Newquay if lap dancing continues here.   The establishments which currently hold licences are within  a stone's throw of churches, schools and venues for children's activities. They are also right in the centre of town  next door to where you buy your children books or ice creams.   I ask the miscellaneous licencing board to put the interests of the local residents and  businesses who work hard to create a better image for the town first. Please set a zero cap for the central area of Newquay, which I would define as from Fore Street,through Bank Street, Beach Road, Gover Lane, East Street, Cliff Road, theTolcarne Road/ Holywell Road area, Edgecumbe Avenue and Narrowcliff.
Mrs S – St Newlyn East (46)	13 Oct 2010 & 15 Oct 2010	13 Oct - I am writing to ask you to consider setting a cap of zero on lapdancing clubs / sexual encounter establishments in Cornwall.   I am the mother of four young children and I object to the sexualisation of society. I feel that theses establishments are unneccesary and unwelcome in our county.   15 Oct - Please may I ask that a zero cap should be set for sexual entertainment venues, sex shops and sex cinemas in the Newquay, Truro and Perranporth areas.   These areas have groups of vulnerable people who reside there who may be adversely impacted, and are also populated by children's parks and play areas and churches and other places of worship.
Mrs P – Newquay (50)	14 Oct 2010	I am writing to you to express my view against Lap-Dancing establishments being in Newquay altogether.  I have been a resident in Newquay for most of my 37 years and have seen a steady decline in the reputation of Newquay.  Newquay was, predominantly a family destination, with lots to offer any family coming to the area.  Over the years we have lost many establishments aimed at families in the area, such as the Cozy Nook Theatre, the Cinema etc.  I believe we all know of the detrimental effect of the press that Newquay has received over the last few years.    We should be encouraging Newquay as a family destination to the nation.  I fail to see that Lap-Dancing clubs enhance Newquay in any way whatsoever.  The whole nightlife situation in Newquay is completely out of hand now.  I worry endlessly about my children growing up in Newquay, their own town.  I certainly do not want my pre-teenage son and young daughter to think that these clubs are normal and that women should be on offer to drunken men, for any price.      I have been extremely concerned that Lap-Dancing clubs ruin the town centre, we have a beautiful town, with beautiful beaches and scenery, why can we not promote the good things in the town?  I also do not believe that Lap-Dancing clubs bring custom to the town at all.  The only people who benefit from the sex establishments are the owners of the clubs, who are raking in the profits from the girls who have to pay to be employed by them.  We already know that some of the Lap-Dancing clubs cannot abide by the rules that they had already been given, why should they be given chance after chance to 'prove' themselves.   I am also very very worried that there may soon be one opening in my residential area.  I live at Tolcarne Mews and we have had endless problems with Tall Trees nightclub in the past, which then became Pure, the problems continuing.  Now I believe it is reverting back to Tall Trees again.  I am the Rep for the residents of Tolcarne Mews and our residents are literally dreading the re-opening of the club.  Although the new Licensees have expressed that they will not be re-opening the Mirage Lap-Dancing part of the club, they only have a six month License and so within six months we may be subjected to a sex establishment right on our doorsteps.  I fear for the safety of the residents and children in this area, not to mention that there is a school directly opposite the club.  We have numerous problems with shouting, screaming, people being sick, fighting and general disturbance and reports of people actually having sex on the car park in Tolcarne Mews.  It is wholly unfair that any residents, who pay rent and want a decent standard of living, should be subjected to this behaviour.  I have seen for myself the drunken antics of club goers to this area and I dread to think that if Lap-Dancing comes back to the area, what we will then be subjected to with aroused men being released into a residential area, where we have vunerable women and children.  How are these clubs allowed to be in a residential area???   I hope that the Council will see sense and put a zero cap on ALL of these establishments for the safety and welfare of residents and visitors to Newquay alike.