THE Bishop of Chester has hit out at prostitution after a government inspector gave planning permission for a massage parlour at the end of his street.

Rt Rev Dr Peter Foster says the activity reduces human sexuality to 'an animal level' and he would oppose such premises wherever they sprung up.

He believes the law must be tightened so massage parlours like the one which was operating in the former Kaleyards Gate Tea House, off Frodsham Street, Chester, cannot exist with the full backing of the authorities.

Fortunately for Bishop Peter, this particular 'Gentlemen's recreation club' had to vacate when the owner asked his tenants to leave on discovering the nature of their business.

The Bishop told The Chronicle: 'It reduces human sexuality to an animal level. That's the problem with page three as well. It treats human beings as naked apes and that goes on right throughout society in all sorts of ways.'

Reacting to news the massage parlour was unlikely to return next to the cathedral, he added: 'I would not want to crow about that. My concern is for wider society. I would object if it was the middle of Blacon or Saltney and all sorts of places.

'It is demeaning to human beings in society, of which this is simply one instance.'

Chester City Council members had voted against the planning application after objections from clergy living in Abbey Street, including the Bishop's wife Elizabeth Forster, even though this was contrary to advice from their officers.

However, applicant Catherine O'Brien appealed and inspector Philip Crookes decided at public inquiry that the premises were acceptable in that particular location, even though he acknowledged 'many of the services offered would be of a sexual nature'.

Bishop Peter said: 'I have an oldfashioned view. Personally, I am in favour of the law being much less permissive. Presumably the inspector operated according to the law and the law allows such an institution in the centre of Chester.

'The trouble is we solve one problem by legalising such things and create others by legalising them. On balance the health of society is better if less encouragement is given to them.'

Bishop Peter countered the argument that in a free society people should be able to offer sexual services and pay for such services if they so wished. 'This abrogates responsibility for the individual in terms of the overall well-being of society,' he said.

Was he not fighting a losing battle given prostitution is said to be the oldest profession in the world? 'So is pick-pocketing, in fact that's even older I think,' said the Bishop.

Ward councillor Gwyneth Cooper (Lab, City and St Anne's) takes a different view.

She said: 'They do exist and in a way they are better being operated totally up front. At least the council can keep an eye on them rather than them operating under cover.

'I would like to see some sort of licensing. If they operated under a licence the place would have to be kept reasonable and it would mean the girls would have regular health checks.

'I would rather a bloke went to a place like that than rape a girl on the street. The problem with this one was where it was situated - too close to the cathedral for comfort!'

Ms O'Brien, who calls herself a working girl, made the planning application but had to move out after landlord Geoffrey Ferguson, of Queens Place, told her he was selling the property. She is now looking for alternative premises.

She said of the Bishop's view on prostitution: 'I know what he means. I did feel a bit guilty about it myself at one time but it's life isn't it? There's nothing you can do about it. You are never going to stop it but he will stop it being by his cathedral.'

A planning department spokesman said he understood the owner now wished to turn the Kaleyards premises into an art gallery.