Pub’s stripper license enrages local community
22 April 2009
By Femi Adedeji
A deluge of complaints following a recent magistrate’s decision to grant a local pub a license to introduce strippers has prompted police to organise a meeting with the landlord, residents and licensing officials.
The meeting, held last week at the request of the landlord, gave residents a chance to air their views and find out what steps the police and licensing officials are adopting to ensure the premises does not fall foul of the law. Lewisham Council had originally turned the application down but a ruling by Greenwich Magistrates Court reversed it, granting the proprietor of the White Hart pub (New Cross Road) permission to move ahead with plans to introduce strippers to the premises.
Concern
Concerned residents had opposed the idea from the outset and the council’s initial decision signalled a moral victory until it was overturned.
Resident and New Deal for Communities (NDC) board member Henry Herrera said: “This type of thing is demeaning and degrading to women, brings a bad reputation to the neighbourhood and completely undermines the work the NDC has been doing over the last few years. How can an unelected magistrate overturn a decision that has such an impact on the whole community?
Campaign
We need community based action. We are urging parents, teachers and local groups to join our campaign to put a stop to establishments like this. There is plenty of provision for this sort of thing in Soho”.
Borough resident, Tania Eadie cycles past the pub everyday. Like many residents she too is outraged that a license for this type of establishment has been granted in this area. “I’m totally opposed to the idea of women doing this sort of thing, surely there most be alternatives. We have local schools and churches nearby and this sort of activity should never be allowed.”
Facts
Pub landlord Ken Linwood dismisses claims that this is wrong for the area and urges residents to speak to police about the facts.
“There is no anti-social behaviour of any sort here. I, like everybody else have the right to earn a living and I am doing everything within the legal guidelines.
“If anyone has any concerns, they should come down and have a look around. This is why I wanted to have an open meeting, to give residents an opportunity to see how I run the place. Sadly, only two people turned up.”
Law
Local Police Inspector, Andy Laurie also present at the meeting said: “We understand the moral issues but we have an obligation to be fair to everyone. We are here to ensure the pub is managed properly and minimise any friction with the community. This is why we are working closely with the management and have placed a number of conditions on the licencee which must be adhered to. These include regularly checking the background of the women who work here.
The best advice I can give to anyone with concerns about the pub is to speak to your Safer Neighbourhood teams”. To contact your safer neighbourhood team call 020 7161 9304.
A second meeting is scheduled to take place at the Barnes Wallis Centre, Wild Goose Drive, on the 28th of April. (8.30-9.30).
