A RAPE support worker has raised fears that more regulation of lapdancing clubs could be in vain if an Oxford venue wins its battle to stay open.

Hannah Clare, who works at the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre, said The Lodge would set a legal precedent if it appeals and wins.

The Pennyfarthing Place club has been stripped of its licence by Oxford City Council.

Under new powers adopted by the authority in June last year, clubs can be refused in residential areas, close to schools or play areas, near shopping centres or tourist hot-spots or close to places of worship.

As it stands, the club which is next to a church and shops, will have to stop lapdancing in June.

Miss Clare led a protest on International Women’s Day in front of The Lodge’s billboard advertisement in Botley Road.

She said: “It was a good opportunity to make a statement about the worry many women and a lot of men in the county feel about the prevalence of the sex industry.”

She feared a successful appeal could set a legal precedent.

She said: “If a judicial review came back and said this club was able to operate in Oxford, it would be easy for others to come in.”

Miss Clare said there was evidence of a rise in sex crimes in areas with a high concentration of lapdancing clubs.

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.

The Lodge had to reapply for a sexual entertainment venue licence and the council refused it last month.

But Al Thompson, one of The Lodge’s owners, said claims that lapdancing clubs attracted crime or made areas feel unsafe were “rubbish”.

He added: “It is all speculation.

“Most people who walk past don’t have a clue what it is, there’s no external advertising, just a couple of doormen after 9.30pm.”

He said there was no issue with crime and that had been vindicated by magistrates’ decision to dismiss the attempt of neighbouring St Ebbe’s Church to have the licence revoked last year.

He said: “It was proved to be rubbish last time.”

Mr Thompson said he was meeting his legal adviser to discuss the council’s decision report that was released this week.

He said: “After he has looked at the reasoning behind the decision we will make a decision on whether it is worth spending the £25,000 or £30,000 on taking that judicial review.”