Include us in lap dancing debate, say performers

Erotic dancers are urging council leaders to include them in discussions on lap dancing licences.

It comes as Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) has started a consultation on Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) permissions, and has written to the government asking for clarity on the future of the regulations.

Sophie, which is not her real name, performed in the town during last year's Cheltenham Festival. She said dancers are not routinely asked their views on licensing conditions, which can leave them feeling "vulnerable".

CBC said it had spoken with performers and some had been given the opportunity to offer their views in council meetings.

CBC has granted 17 SEV licences between now and May , on days which mirror meets at the racecourse, including the annual Cheltenham Festival in March.

Some women's rights and religious groups oppose the licences being granted.

But Sophie said erotic dancers wanted the chance to to speak for themselves on the subject.

"We're never consulted on any of the processes, we weren't consulted on the licences when they were written, [and] we're not consulted on whether we want our work places to stay open," she added.

"We're always treated as victims who are unable to speak for ourselves or make decisions for ourselves.

"And by doing that they relegate us to the sidelines of these decisions that impact us above anyone else."

Sophie said the licences offer protection to performers as they allow groups to work in one place and benefit from security and CCTV.

'About safety, not morality' CBC said the decision to grant SEV licences is a "legal" rather than a "moral" decision, and regulation makes it safer for performers and the public.

Chairman of the council's licencing committee, Dr David Willingham said: "If we banned everything we thought was immoral there wouldn't be any horse racing, there wouldn't be any gambling, there'd be no drinking and there wouldn't be any SEVs.

"It's public safety we're worried about in licencing, not morality."

Responding to a question about performers not being asked for their views, he said the council had conversations with them during race week, adding: "We've also reached out to talk to performer groups who are even less represented in this process, such as the Dream Boys."

The council said it is currently consulting with stakeholders on the parameters of its SEV licences and it expects to open this out for public consultation in 2025.

In his letter to the government, Dr Willingham has asked whether the Home Office will close a loophole which allows promoters to put on up to 11 events a year without a SEV licence, as long as they last less than 24 hours and are spaced four weeks apart.

The government is yet to respond.

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Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Nelson, believes there should be an outright ban of SEV licences in the county, over his concerns the events are linked to an increase in misogynistic behaviour.

"A lot of women just don't like coming in to Cheltenham during the race week because there's so many male tourists who've had too much to drink and the sexual entertainment venues contribute to that sense of entitlement some men may have over women," he added.

"I think we need to get to the core of the matter and change the law, and in the 21st Century, in Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, I don't think we should have sexual entertainment venues."

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