Oxford won’t have to “hang its head in shame” if plans to relocate the city’s only lapdancing club go ahead, bosses have claimed.

Owners of The Lodge are eyeing a new city centre venue and claim it is the “perfect location” for sexual entertainment.

The club’s previous incarnation, behind the Westgate Centre, closed last month after its licence application was rejected. Now it is planning a £100,000 revamp of The Coven in Oxpens Road.

But former neighbour St Ebbe’s Church, along with Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) and residents, voiced opposition.

The city council, which will decide the licence application, heard both sides of the argument at a hearing on Tuesday, and a decision is due in the next few days.

The authority can refuse a sexual entertainment licence on the grounds that it is too close to tourist attractions, schools, shops, residential areas or churches.

But Gerald Gouriet, representing The Lodge, told a panel of three city councillors the club had amended its proposed opening time from 9pm to 11pm so it would not overlap with neighbouring businesses, such as Oxford Ice Rink.

He said concerns about noise were unfounded and police had raised no objections.

“Noise from lapdancing clubs is at a much lower level as there must be talking audible above it,” he said.

“People go to enjoy the flattering conversation from the girls.”

He said the club would attract fewer customers than the present 500-capacity Coven nightclub and the different customer base was apparent by the bottles of £500 Champagne on the menu.

“Far from Oxford hanging its head in shame when tourists go past, the reality is unless they have prior knowledge they will not know what is there,” he added. “It would be hard to find a better location for a lapdancing club.”

St Ebbe’s Church said the club would make women feel uncomfortable when walking past and it was too close to the coach park used by tourists.

OCVC said: “We safeguard our students, who leave the site up until 10pm, from inappropriate, threatening and predatory behaviour, the potential for which would be increased if a licence in its current form was given.”

The Lodge has challenged the decision to refuse a licence at its former home in Pennyfarthing Place in the High Court, but said it will drop the action if The Coven bid is successful.

In an Oxford Mail web poll 57 per cent of respondents thought Oxpens Road was a good location for the club, 30 per cent didn’t want a lapdancing club in Oxford and 13 per cent believed it was the wrong location.