D-day arrives as the future of Leeds lap dancing clubs is set to be decided

Both the Liberte and Purple Door sexual entertainment venues (SEV), in the York Place area of Leeds city centre, have applied to renew their licences, prompting objections from campaigners.

The clubs account for two-thirds of the city centre’s remaining lap dancing clubs following a crackdown that saw Red Leopard and Wildcats, on The Headrow, and Deep Blue, near Leeds City Station, close last December.

A 230-page dossier on the future of the clubs, which cites both public and licensing complaints about the conduct of flyering staff, will be examined when Leeds City Council’s licensing sub-committee meets tomorrow.

A public objection to both applications cites that the clubs are within metres of the offices of Leeds Children’s Charity and as such are in a “sensitive” location. It also talks of women not receiving “equal treatment”.

The objection, published as part of the report, states: “There can be few more pathetic sights than observing males, some with respectable employment in posts of public esteem, shuffling down grubby little back streets and crawling into such establishments which, on their own admission, are rapidly fading into obsolescence.”

In the report the conduct of at times “aggressive” SEV promotional teams was highlighted, while Liberte’s 14 teams of two people drew extra criticism. Council enforcement and senior liaison officer Samantha Longfellow said: “We are concerned Leeds city centre is being saturated with promotional teams.”

Officers also noted several complaints from the public, while suggesting conditions to the clubs’s licences should be enforced including limiting promo teams to five groups of two people who should not cause “public annoyance or offence”.

The decision-making council committee could grant either or both of the clubs renewed licences of up to 12 months.