2. a) A school, nursery or other premises substantially used by or
for children under 16 years of age
provides support and social opportunities for young people who are
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) or who are affected by
HIV. They also run a peer education volunteering programme which
is open to all young people.
The heterosexism such establishments promote could exacerbate the
alienation and isolation that many young LGBT people experience in
a deeply homophobic culture and society.
3. a) A school, nursery or other premises substantially used by
or for children under 16 years of age
supports survivors of rape, sexual violence and abuse of all
ages and has a Children & Young People’s Independent
Sexual Violence Advisor (ChISVA)
4. a) A school, nursery or other premises substantially used by or
for children under 16 years of age
offers education from the age of 14. Subway across the road from
the proposed location also said that the majority of their customers
are school children, in their lunch breaks and after school
holds events for young people from the age of 14
5. a) A school, nursery or other premises substantially used by
or for children under 16 years of age
Thoroughfare and access route from the station, bus station and
bus stops to:
7. c) A church or other place of worship
and is yards away from:
8. d) A Hospital, Mental Incapacity or Disability Centre or
Similar Premises
The Freeman College provides education for young people with a
range of special educational needs, including “severe or associated
mental health needs” and has a site on Leadmill Road for
Metalwork and Jewellery.
9. f) A central gateway to the city or other city landmark,
historic building or tourist attraction
http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/
10. f) A central gateway to the city or other city landmark,
historic building or tourist attraction
11. f) A central gateway to the city or other city landmark,
historic building or tourist attraction
2017 Special Olympics opening ceremony at Bramall Lane –
showcasing Sheffield
Bramall Lane is accessed via Suffolk Road from the M1 and the
Parkway from many parts of the city and on entering the city
12. f) A central gateway to the city or other city landmark,
historic building or tourist attraction
13. f) A central gateway to the city or other city landmark,
historic building or tourist attraction
16. Gender equality
As the Development Education Centre South
Yorkshire (DECSY) states (B24? p. 98) “A further
concern is that the venue portrays that it is
acceptable that women act as sexual objects which
contributes to society’s violence against women and
girls. DECSY have been running a Gender Respect
project with local schools for the past three years
and the venue would directly undermine the work
that we have been carrying out.”
17. The Council states:
“Representations submitted by performers (exclusively female) for
similar previous applications suggest that the opportunity for a
flexible, self-employed work pattern is an attractive proposition,
providing a sustainable income and work / life balance. Closing of
such premises would have a negative impact on those in lawful
employment, particularly women.” (p.453)
We should also give equal weight to those women who have left the
industry who say that their experiences of performing have had a
negative impact.
18. Former dancers’ testimonies
“It’s utterly degrading.”
“No one is the same after working in the industry. You get used to being
treated as a second class citizen.”
“It was the hardest work I have ever done, either physically, emotionally
or mentally.”
“Men need to stop thinking that it’s OK to pay for sexual entertainment.
Paying for it doesn’t just hurt the women providing that service. It hurts all
women. It hurts all of us.” (Stripping the Illusion: the Lap Dancing Industry
Exposed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhwJWkqgP2c)
19. Former dancers’ testimonies
“Men would come in and ask the manager did she have any black girls
and I would be wheeled out like a prize cow. At the time it seemed
normal, but with hindsight . . . “
“We were encouraged to act like little girls, lost demure, submissive and
dumb, which is what makes men part with money quickest.”
“They wanted a bimbo who would be subordinate to them”
“It was dehumanising, soul destroying and filled with desperation.”
(Stripping the Illusion: the Lap Dancing Industry Exposed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhwJWkqgP2c)
20. Former dancers’ testimonies
“The strange thing about lap dancing is how things that would be
unacceptable in real life become normal in the club.” (Stripped: The Bare
Reality of Lapdancing: p. 29)
“Many parts of my time in dancing are difficult to talk about. Often if
someone asked me about my experience as a dancer I have responded
with a socially acceptable answer, and simply asserted that I enjoyed
dancing, that I made a lot of money, but in the end dancing was not for
me. This explanation in no way conveyed the extremity of emotion and
mental distress I experienced as a dancer, and in no way conveys the
sexual degradation and humiliation I experienced and observed during
my short dancing career.” (Ibid. p. 34)
21. Former dancers’ testimonies
Hayashi Danns, author of the book Stripped: The Bare Reality of
Lapdancing (2011) tells Kat Banyard that “the idea that the sex
industry is sex-positive and liberal [is] an absolute joke” and that
lapdancing clubs like the one she used to work in are “just a
manifestation of gender inequality.” (Cited in Banyard, K. 2016 Pimp
State: Sex, Money and the Future of Equality. P. 140)
22. Foster good relations between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not
“I always thought of the customers as vermin and, ironically, that is what
they thought of me” (Ibid. p.13)
“It’s screwed up my view of men . . . Every time I see a man now, I just see
him as a punter. There’s only so many bad experiences you can have
before you start hating them all . . .” (Ibid. p.47)
“You start to see men as nothing more than their wallets, idiots to be
fleeced for as much as you can. You start to despise them for believing
you when you flutter your eyelashes and tell them they’re the most
interesting customer that you’ve ever talked to.” (Stripping the Illusion:
the Lap Dancing Industry Exposed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhwJWkqgP2c)
23.
24. The Council states:
“Whilst a customer demographic for such venues is largely male, it is
not unusual for females to visit such premises, as presented
evidence for a previous application. There is no bar to entry for
either gender at any time.” (p. 453)
So why are they known as “gentleman’s clubs”?
“It was not a ‘gentleman’s’ club and I failed to understand what was
so gentlemanly about an intoxicated man using derogatory language
towards me, pestering me for sex and getting off on my naked
body.” (Ibid. p. 13)
25. Summed up by this former customer who posted a comment on the Harrogate
Advertiser report:
http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/crime/harrogate-strip-club-villa-mercedes-loses-license-after-
26. Journalist who investigated lap dancing
“It’s about an industry which relies entirely on
women, yet grants its female employees (sic) few if
any rights: in that sense an industry that’s stuck in
the mindset of a pre-Equal Pay Act era.” (Ibid. p. 53)
27. In the final analysis as per the guidance issued:
Members will also need to consider:
(a) cumulative adverse impact of existing sex establishment related activities in the vicinity of
the proposed premises” – Spearmint Rhino is in the immediate vicinity
If the application is refused on paragraph (c) or (d) of the discretional grounds:
(c) the number of sex establishments in the relevant locality at the time the application is made
is equal to or exceeds the number which the authority consider is appropriate for that locality; /
(d) the grant or renewal of the licence would be inappropriate, having regard—
(i) to the character of the relevant locality; or / (ii) to the use to which any premises in the
vicinity are put; or (iii) to the layout, character or condition of the premises, vehicle, vessel or
stall in respect of which the application is made.
There is no right of
appeal (p.8)
28. To quote Philip Kolvin QC, who acts for Spearmint Rhino and was leading
Counsel for Sheffield at the Hillsborough Inquest
“The new legislation [SEV] is designed to give authorities much
greater control over what goes where taking into account
community concerns.”
(acting on behalf of residents objecting to the “Platinum Lounge” SEV
in Chester, 2015 which was refused:
http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-
news/chester-platinum-lounge-lap-dancing-9548112)
Intro to Zero Option – we are a local group campaigning against all SEVs
This presentation will be in 2 parts. Part 1, looks at the location and part 2, I will be looking at the impacts on gender in response to the Equality Impact Assessment notes that were circulated with the report on the 25th August
This is one aspect of the EIA which falls short of understanding the impacts these types of venues have on groups sharing one of the Equality Act’ protected characteristics.
As you will have seen, the findings of a survey of SARSAC service users has shown that should this SEV go ahead, it will be an additional barrier that survivors of sexual violence have to face to access a much needed and vital safe space to get support. I myself am an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate at Leeds RC. Our building is opposite a major building development and many of my clients have expressed how intimidated they feel accessing our building with a large number of workman congregating outside. There have been occasions where I have accompanied clients out of the building and waited with them until their taxi or lift arrives, such is their trauma.
In fact, the Off the Shelf festival this year has 24 events taking place at the Showroom or the Workstation.
I ask the Sub-Committee to carefully consider how potentially 2 SEVs are appropriate as part of the CIQ
Or the knowledge gateway, unless of course the plan is to create a “carnal knowledge” gateway
The PSED is the Public Sector Equality Duty. As the solicitor Louise Whitfield who specialises in the public sector equality duty and breaches of it states” gender equality is not a moral argument; it is a statutory obligation of the Council”
Object also states that “objections to lap dancing club are based on issues of equality, not morality.” If moral objections are considered as “inadmissible” then why is one ground for objection proximity to a place of worship? Furthermore, if a venue promoting racism were planned, would objections on the grounds of racism be dismissed as “moral”?
Furthermore, I don’t know how anyone could argue that a club whose website promotes packages for men to attend the club because their mother-in-law has died (are we still stuck in the Les Dawson mother-in-law so called jokes era?) or because their girlfriend is having a period can be remotely considered to foster good relations between the sexes.
How can this possibly be seen as advancing equality opportunity for women?
This exemplifies the male and monetary entitlement of the many men who access these venues. Given the publicity about the Harrogate club which comes up when you google Villa Mercedes, it is not unreasonable to expect that many men who are looking to pay for sexual services will be attracted to this club.
