Cheltenham strip club opposite church given approval
A controversial strip club opposite a Cheltenham town centre church will be allowed to open after every race meeting next year.
Red Apple Associates Ltd have been granted permission by Cheltenham Borough Council to run the club at Jessop House, 30 Cambray Place.
The venue is owned by Steven Burrows and operates as Eroticats. It will welcome up to 500 customers per night.
The proposal has split opinion in the town with 50 letters sent in support of the scheme but more than 35 people objecting- including women’s rights groups and Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk.
Senior pastor of Cambray Baptist Church, Alwyn Barry, spoke against the plans for the venue at the licensing sub-committee on December 18.
He said councillors “had no idea how deeply hurtful” such a business is being so close to a place of worship.
“It’s much more offensive than placing a pub immediately opposite an Alcoholics Anonymous venue,” he said. “Or a betting shop at the entrance of a gambler’s rehab centre.”
He said the venue has caused so much offence that people who take their children to church events are concerned about doing so when the strip club is operating.
Gilli Appleby, chief executive of Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, also spoke against the scheme and said women do not feel safe at night in the town and this rises during race week.
“Sexual violence is a serious and widespread issue. The purpose of sexual entertainment venues is to sexually stimulate those observing.
“Those two staments concern me over how one leads to the other.”
Mr Burrows told the committee the venue is a safe and well organised premises.
Chairman David Willingham said the committee visited the premises and were satisfied with it.
He said there were no objections from the police and as there is no evidence of problems it would be irrational to refuse the application.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the application.
This means the venue will be allowed to open on 17 days next year.