A CONTROVERSIAL lapdancing club which incurred the wrath of its church neighbour has been stripped of its licence.

The Lodge, in Pennyfarthing Place, St Ebbe’s, has been offering sexual entertainment, including private dances for £20, since February last year.

But Oxford City Council used new powers to refuse it a licence at a hearing on Wednesday night.

Yesterday a councillor insisted it was not a “moral judgement” and the club said it was taking legal advice before deciding its next move.

However, the decision has delighted neighbouring St Ebbe’s Church, which fought and lost a court battle last year to have lapdancing stopped.

The Rev Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe’s, said: “As a church, we campaigned against this licence application as we did not believe this sort of establishment should continue to have a base in the city centre of Oxford.

“Many children and young people use our church each week and to have such a club in close proximity would not be appropriate.”

The congregation at St Ebbe’s was appealed the council’s original decision to licence the venue.

It lost the court fight and was left with £12,000 legal costs.

At the court hearing, magistrates heard the club could attract 90 punters on a busy night with some splashing out on £500 bottles of champagne.

The council originally granted a variation to the licence for The Lodge in December 2009, to allow lapdancing, and at the time said it had no grounds to refuse it.

But, under new powers adopted by the authority in June last year, lapdancing clubs can now be refused in residential areas, close to schools or play areas, near shopping centres or tourist hot spots or close to churches and other places of worship.

Under that legislation the premises need a sexual entertainment venue licence and the council refused The Lodge’s application.

Colin Cook, executive member for city development, said: “We said it was inappropriate in the area it was placed. There were four or five reasons, its proximity to the church, the shopping centre, historic and tourist destinations and a school.”

He said the club could continue to offer lapdances until June and would decide whether to challenge the ruling.

Asked if the council would allow lapdancing clubs in any area of the city, Mr Cook said: “It’s difficult for me to comment as I sit on the committee that will decide future applications so I would disbar myself from judging them.”

But he said decisions were taken based on whether venues were appropriate in a particular location.

He added: “This is not a moral judgement, very much not.”

Al Thompson, one of the owners of The Lodge, said he was surprised by the decision.

He added: “We are taking legal advice with a view to taking it to a judicial review.”

TIMELINE

  • December 2009: The Lodge granted a variation to its licence, under the licensing Act 2003, to allow lapdancing. Decision taken by Oxford City Council
  • February 2010: St Ebbe’s Church appeals against council decision
  • February 2010: Lapdancing available at the club, private dances £20.
  • February 2010: Community groups unite to stage a demonstration against lapdancing nights at the Oxford bar
  • June 2010: New legislation requires a sexual entertainment venue licence for lapdancing clubs and gives councils the power to refuse them in certain locations
  • June 2010: Judge dismisses the church’s appeal against the December 2009 decision.
  • March 2011: The Lodge’s application for a sexual entertainment venue licence is refused by the city council.