Norwich City Council receives no strip club complaints

Norwich City Council has been cracking down on the sexual entertainment industry and recently revealed its intention to work towards a target of zero such establishments.

The plans have resulted in backlash from business owners who have even fought their case at court, as the authority tried and failed to ban lap dances at one of the city's biggest clubs.  

While the council has raised concerns about the safety of dancers and customers at these venues, new data has revealed that it has received zero complaints in more than ten years. 

Sugar and Spice in Prince of Wales Road (Image: Eleanor Storey) The four sexual entertainment venues currently licensed by the council in Norwich are Sugar and Spice, Entice and Pure Gold, all located in Prince of Wales Road, and Platinum Lace on Dove Street.

City Hall's licensing rules limit the number of adult establishments in the city to four, but councillors recently revealed their ambition to see this target reduced to zero.

While existing venues will not be required to immediately close their doors, it is expected that once they do there will be no replacements.

However, the proposals have led to criticism from business owners who say the authority is being "too uptight" and creating a "hostile environment" for their clubs.

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Representatives for the club appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Jamie Honeywood) The council was taken to Norwich Magistrates' Court last month after Simon Goodings and Daz Crawford, owners of Sugar and Spice, appealed a decision made by councillors to forbid dancers from sitting on or straddling customers at the club. 

This was due to concerns about the extent of contact between dancers and customers and the changes were intended to maintain boundaries and avoid the "blurring" of lines. 

Nevertheless, the court ruled in favour of the club bosses after hearing from the performers, who said they had never felt unsafe at work. 

Norwich City Hall (Image: Newsquest) New data shows that Norwich City Council has received no complaints about its licensed sexual entertainment venues in more than a decade, with the most recent relevant incident being a noise complaint lodged with the authority in 2012. 

This provokes debate about the reasons behind City Hall's vendetta, and whether councillors are letting their personal views override those of employees, customers and business owners.