Norwich City Council wants to see strip clubs closed

Councillors have announced plans to bring an end to the city's sexual entertainment industry by working towards a target of zero establishments.

There are currently four licensed venues in Norwich and while these will not be required to immediately close their doors, it is expected that once they do, there will be no replacements.

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

Norwich City Council is launching a public consultation into these plans on Monday and is seeking to implement the new rules toward the end of the year. 

Police officers on duty in Prince of Wales Road (Image: Archant)

WHAT ARE THE RULES? 

Currently, the four licensed venues in Norwich are Sugar and Spice, Entice and Pure Gold, all located in Prince of Wales Road, and Platinum Lace in Dove Street.

City Hall's licensing rules limit the number of establishments in the city to four - two in Prince of Wales Road and two in the wider city area - but councillors now want to see this target reduced to zero.

The council previously broke its own guidance by allowing three venues to operate in Prince of Wales Road.

However, it hopes the updated policy will remove the presumption that more premises should be allowed to open where the limit is not reached - in the wider city area.

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Norwich City Council (Image: Newsquest)

Caroline Ackroyd, a Lib Dem councillor for Eaton, said: "I'm not some kind of prude but I wouldn't want to see any more venues opening.

"We're not doing this on moral grounds, but we have to think about the safety and wellbeing of our communities.

"If one of these clubs closed, I wouldn't be rushing down to ask for another one to open in its place."

Lib Dem councillor Caroline Ackroyd (Image: Submitted)

Cate Oliver, an independent member for Town Close ward, added: "We don't want it to seem like we need to have four venues in the city because of that target. 

"This isn't meant to destroy existing businesses and we want to head toward zero without closing any of them down."

Council officials stressed that the updated policy would not be a "final answer" when considering new applications but would set out an "expected course of action". 

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Cate Oliver (Image: Norwich City Council)

WHAT DO BUSINESS OWNERS SAY? 

Some business owners have expressed relief that the new policy would limit their competition in the city, by discouraging new clubs from opening. 

But others have accused councillors of unfairly targeting their livelihoods.

Entice in Prince of Wales Road (Image: Eleanor Storey)

Tyrese Malik, owner of Entice, said: "They're creating a hostile environment. Look at the day and age we live in - people can watch what they want and do what they want. The council don't have to be so uptight. 

"It's just a front they put up. These clubs are used by politicians of the highest levels.

"It is unfair to suggest there is a link to anti-social behaviour. We've never had the police at our door and we're just trying to earn a living."

The council will launch a public consultation into the policy changes on Monday and it will close in November prior to returning to members for consideration.