MORE light has been shed upon plans to open a new sexual entertainment venue in Warrington town centre.

As previously reported, Warrington Borough Council’s licencing committee is to rule on an application for a sexual entertainment venue at Truth nightclub.

The Friars Gate venue has formerly been Trilogy and Showbar over the years, as well as the Hippodrome and stints as Palace Cinema, Royal Court Theatre, a music hall and a bingo hall before then.

Committee members will decide on the bid by applicant Warrington Holdings Group Ltd at a meeting next Tuesday, April 16, at Warrington Town Hall.

Until now, the nature of entertainment on offer has been somewhat vague, however a pre-meeting report states that it will involve striptease and lap, pole and table dancing.

The sex entertainment venue will operate from the first floor only from 7pm to 3am, Monday to Sunday.

The report states that there are no other sex entertainment premises within a one-mile radius, but there are 11 schools, 14 nurseries, 32 places of worship and 54 licensed premises.

Warrington does not currently have any sexual entertainment venues, although there is a sex shop on Sankey Street.

During a 28-day consultation period, the council received 22 individual objections and one petition containing 286 signatures – with one email in support.

Cheshire Police also opposed the application, while council says it had to refuse three objections as ‘invalid’ in accordance with policy and the act from which objections can be made.

In its objection, Cheshire Police stated: “It is the view of the constabulary that having such a venue within the nighttime economy would have a damaging effect on the town.

“Its presence could lead to women or other vulnerable persons feeling intimidated, as well as degrading and exploiting the participants of either sex, whether they are workers or customers.

“It reinforces the damaging gender stereotypes, which goes against all the work that has been done around the Safer Streets campaign.

“The constabulary feels that the granting of this license for a sexual entertainment venue would undermine the work that the police and the council have been doing over the last few years.

“This involves raising awareness about violence against women and girls and raising awareness of vulnerability in the nighttime economy, and it would also undermine the licensing objective of prevention of crime and disorder.

“Based on the information provided, the constabulary would urge the licensing committee to refuse the application.”

According to the report, a licence may be refused where the applicant is unsuitable having been convicted of an offence or the application would benefit someone else.

The number of existing sex establishments can also lead to refusal, as can approval having detriment to the character of the area and building.

Councillors must take into account the venue’s proximity to homes, places of worship, leisure centres, schools, and elderly homes, as well as its proximity to areas with high levels of recorded crime.

No recommendation is made in the report other than stating that committee members can grant the application in full, approve subject to conditions or modifications, or refuse the application.