DIVAS LOSE LAP-DANCE LICENCE

11.58.06am GMT Thu 17th Dec 2009

Lap dance club Divas are set to lose their licence for adult entertainment

Newquay lap-dance club Divas is set to lose its licence for adult entertainment after a day-long review of operating practices at the club yesterday which heard evidence of children being employed as lap-dancers and saw Police footage of the dancers regularly breaking the recently imposed "no touching" rules.

Cornwall Council's licensing committee took the decision to remove the adult entertainment licence after deciding that the club was unwilling to work with stakeholders to promote the licensing objectives.

Lib Dem campaigner and Prospective MP Steve Gilbert, who has worked with local residents for two years to help lead the campaign to get proper controls on Newquay's lap-dance industry and gave evidence to the committee at yesterday's hearing, said:

"The whole community, like me, will be deeply shocked and angered by the revelation Divas had been employing a 17-year old girl as a fully nude full contact lap-dancer and that the management could not guarantee that other children had not been employed in a similar role. This sickening news should give everyone who thinks these clubs are "just a bit of fun" pause for thought about what really goes on.

"On top of that the committee heard evidence from the Police of illegal drug use on the premises and saw video footage of the dancers regularly breaking the "no touching" conditions on their licence which are designed to protect the dancers and customers.

"Divas have actively sought ways to circumvent the rules that are designed to protect people and yesterday's ruling is a victory for the majority of residents in Newquay who don't want to see the town become the sleaze capital of Cornwall."