The future of Chester's only lap dancing club is 'hanging on a knife edge' with the city divided on whether the council should renew its licence.

Representatives of The Platinum Lounge faced opponents to the club and a dancer defended her right to 'strip' for a living, during a heated debate before the council's licencing committee today (Friday).

Controversial images were shown of a bikini-clad dancer 'touting' along Watergate Street on a busy race day, while shoppers, some with young children, walked past.

Representatives of the strip club, which has been operating on Bridge Street Row for nine years, admitted the move was not 'best advised' but said it was a knee-jerk reaction during a period of uncertainty.

The Platinum Lounge has faced an uncertain future since Cheshire West and Chester Council revoked its sex establishment licence in September last year - the pictures were taken three weeks later during a special event at the club.

But councillors were shown the pictures during a debate to decide whether to renew the licence, which will allow the club to continue to trade with lap dancing, pole dancing and full nudity on its premises.

Representatives of the club say they have never had any complaints, and it is their right to operate in the city centre - saying the objectors are in the minority.

Sarah Clover, representing the Platinum Lounge, said the community is almost divided '50/50' over the club, which was well run, having received no complaints from residents or police.

She said that objectors present were exercising 'righteous indignation' and the club should be embraced into the fabric of Chester.

"I ask you whether that is a good enough reason to drive this business out? Forty members of staff work here," she said, arguing that the Rows was in the commercial heart and centre of the city's night time economy.

"These are people's lives, they deserve to be taken into consideration. Where would you have [a sex establishment] if not in the commercial area, where would it go?

"The back door here is to a nil cap, you are putting a blanket refusal to sex establishment venues in Chester."

In May the club won the right to continue operating as a sex establishment after a high court judge overturned the council's decision, saying it was a breach of the council's constitution.

But the club may still be forced to stop operating as a lap dancing venue if the council refuse to renew the licence again following today's hearing. Their decision is expected in the next few days.

Opponents to the club, who attended the meeting, argued that the club shouldn't have its licence removed as:

  • it should not exist on the historic Rows - which are the 'crown jewels' of Chester and are the biggest pull for tourists to the city;
  • the area is becoming increasingly residential;
  • and the area is too near to the Dewa Roman Experience, which is frequented by children as they often eat their packed lunches outside the strip club.

Photos taken by long-term opponent of the club Deborah Lomax of the Rainforest Shop, show the provocatively dressed women handing out leaflets during a special 13-hour event in October last year.

During that period the club was allowed 11 special events - the same as any licenced venue in the city, as it was operating without a sex establishment licence.

Ms Lomax argued the 'touting' had detrimentally affected businesses on Watergate Street, and that the Rows had 'gradually declined'.

Speaking before the committee Ms Lomax said: "Chester is now synonymous with stag and hens and drinking.

"The question is, who do we want to encourage more into our city, families, tourists, or men who want to get sexual satisfaction?"

But while some residents and business owners object to the club, the city remains divided with a number of businesses and residents supporting the club.

Dr Astbury Ward, whose son works behind the bar at the club, said: "As has been shown it is a well run commercial establishment that would appear has had no significant trouble.

"I have never been in but I do not object to my son working there."