The last lapdancing bar in the Wakefield district will face tough new licensing rules next week.
Krystals, on Cheapside, will become the first club in the district to be dealt with as a Sexual Entertainment Venue under a newly-adopted licensing policy.
Management says the new policy will not only see them controlled more strictly but will also see a “distance rule” put in place, meaning dancers cannot go within 30cm of customers when performing.
Claire Brown, director at Krystals Group said the new regulations, which also mean venues pay a fee of £2,934, could make it tough for lap dancing bars to keep trading.
She said: “It remains to be seen what these new regulations will mean. I think it will close a lot of clubs down because a lot of them simply can’t afford to pay the fees when, if they lose their licence, they won’t get it back.
“We don’t have a problem with the government wanting to licence the industry because of the nature of the business. But what we have now got is councillors setting the conditions for licenses and a lot of those councillors have not set foot in a lap dancing venue and quite often don’t care for them.”
Krystals have been operating in Wakefield for around six months and have run other venues around the country for four years.
Ms Brown hit out at the “distance rule” which formed part of the new regulations.
She said: “We have a no touching policy but by making the girls stand that far away, you’re taking away the point of a lap dance. For people that want to come and enjoy a lap dance, it’s going to put them off because they’re not really getting what they want.”
The application will be heard by Wakefield Council’s Licensing Regulatory and Appeals Sub-Committee next week after an objection was raised by an elected member.
A report to the committee, who will meet on Wednesday, says: “The representation was made on the grounds it will affect the status of then city centre, particularly when so much is being done to attract more people of all ages, particularly around the theatre area.”
Legislation to create a new category of sex establishment was introduced in April 2010 and adopted by Wakefield Council in March 2011.
A council spokeswoman confirmed that Krystals is currently the only lap dancing bar in the Wakefield district. Leeds currently has eight licensed venues.
Ms Brown added: “We understand we’re not everyone’s cup of tea, and even distasteful for some, but our club is always busy and we do bring people into the city centre.”
