Tag Archives: crouch-end

Lap-dancing update

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Grabbed the opportunity of the Policing Bill – which proposes changing the rules around lap-dancing – to extract a promise. The new legislation, when passed, will make lap dancing clubs have to apply for license as a sex encounter establishment. Currently they only need the same license as a pub.

Part of the concern in Crouch End, outside of just the application (now on hold) for such a club at the Music Palace, was that an application would be rushed through and get granted before the new legislation – and then the legislation would allow all existing lap dancing clubs automatic new licenses – called ‘grandfather rights’.

So – up I leapt during the week – and intervened on the Minister to point out how dreadful this would be. And happily, on the floor of the House of Commons, I extracted the promise that last minute applications for lap dancing clubs will not escape new licensing laws.

Hurrah!

Last minute lap-dancing applications cannot escape new regulations

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Local MP Lynne Featherstone last night extracted a promise from the Government that last minute applications for lap dancing clubs will not escape new licensing laws.

The assurance given on the floor of the House of Commons means that last minute applications, such as the one recently suspended in Crouch End, cannot avoid the new licensing requirements by rushing through their application before the change in law.

Lynne Featherstone and the Liberal Democrat MPs have supported new licensing arrangement to give local communities greater powers to restrict the granting of licences, as part of the Policing and Crime Bill.

Commenting Lynne Featherstone MP says:

“The Crouch End community was left bruised and powerless because of the lack of proper regulation from the Government meaning lap-dancing clubs only need the same licence as a café. This is plainly ridiculous and I support the new powers brought under this new law.

“The assurances I sought means that any last minute applications like in Crouch End cannot escape the new stronger system. I hope this this will come as a relief to local campaigners.”

Councillor David Winskill (Crouch End) adds:

“The uncertainty of the current rules has caused a lot of upset for local residents who opposed the club. At least now we know for certain all clubs will have to re-apply for a new license which is good news for Crouch End and the rest of Haringey.”

Vandals destroy Hornsey Town Hall flower beds

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Vandals destroyed dozens of flowers in beds outside Hornsey Town Hall early on Saturday morning.

It is thought that the damage may have been done by a large group of youths (who had already been reported to the police by worried residents in Park Road and Haringey Park) probably some time after midnight.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have already met with the Crouch End Safer Neighbourhood Team and have asked that every effort is made to find those responsible.

For generations, the flowerbeds have been one of the spring highlights in the area and bring great pleasure to shoppers, those who use the Town Hall Square and early morning commuters at the adjacent W7 bus stop.

Cllr David Winskill, Crouch End, comments:

“This is mindless. Virtually all of the beautiful yellow tulips had been uprooted and thrown all over the place. If this was done as a joke then the thousands of people who pass the Square every day will not see the funny side.”

Cllr Lyn Weber, Crouch End, adds

“It’s important that we find the people responsible. If anyone saw them or if traders have CCTV footage that throws any light on this incident, I urge them to contact the Safer Neighbourhood office on 020 8649 3515.”

Protection of green spaces criticised

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Haringey Council fails to have the necessary by-laws to protect the borough’s open spaces it has emerged. After incidents last week when Queens Wood in Highgate and the Parkland Walk were invaded by campers, local Liberal Democrats have unearthed that Haringey Council and the police do not have sufficient powers to move them on.

By-laws are used to protect open spaces such as Alexandra Park but no laws cover Parkland Walk or Queens Wood, which are both on the national list of Local Nature Reserves. Local Liberal Democrats have written to Haringey Council to ensure that firm steps are taken to introduce by-laws to protect Haringey’s green spaces.

Cllr David Winskill, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Leisure, comments:

“This is a shocking failure on behalf of Haringey Council to not have by-laws in place to protect our parks and nature reserves. I understand that some initial work is now being done by Haringey Council to rectify this but after so many years of this Labour administration, the lack of by-laws is almost beyond belief, and the work must be progressed urgently.”

Lap off!

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Here’s my latest column from the Ham & High:

Watch out! A lap-dancing club could be coming to your local high street soon. Would you like one to open up in Highgate Village, Muswell Hill Broadway or Lordship Lane?

Whilst I don’t believe government should be in the business of banning lap-dancing clubs from existing – people should be free to choose – there’s a time and a place, most particularly a place, for such establishments. I don’t believe that they should be sited right next to schools, near to vulnerable young people or in a busy shopping street in the middle of residential area.

Whilst the current furore over an application for a lap-dancing club is in Crouch End Broadway – there is in fact a rush of new applications as people try to get in before the laws are tightened up by the Policing Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Currently the license needed is the same for lap-dancing as for a pub or club. The new legislation will reclassify lap-dancing as a ‘sex encounter’ establishment which will then require the same license as the rest of the sex trade. This will give local authorities the right to refuse an application on the grounds of location – particularly if the site is near schools etc.

Giving this extra discretion seems very sensible to me – a pub and a lap-dancing club are very different establishments. Indeed, I can’t imagine why it took so long to recognise that difference as lap-dancing (if you will excuse the expression) is very ‘in your face’ sexual – that’s the point of it!

Facing this future where local authorities and local people have more control over where such places can open, those running or wanting to run lap-dancing clubs are trying to get their applications approved before the rules change. In addition, the Lap Dancing Association is lobbying MPs to try and get ‘grandfather rights’ which would mean that clubs with existing licenses will automatically be granted a new type license.

There is another battle shaping up over whether or not the final legislation will include an exemption for venues hosting lap-dancing less than once a month. This would greatly weaken the new rules – which is why I’m opposing this change.

When the final rules become law, they will be ‘optional’ in the sense that councils will be able to decline to use the new powers to judge and reject applications. On this – Haringey Council has said that it will take up the full powers – thank goodness.

So whilst in Parliament I’m fighting to stop the rules being watered down, meanwhile, back on the home front I have joined up with the local campaigners and local Liberal Democrat councillors to fight the Crouch End application.

Lap Off is the name of the campaign. I hope that the licensing panel will turn it down on May 14 – and I hope to be able to speak to support the campaigners on the night. With Rokesley School literally a stone’s throw away, Hornsey Girls School just around the corner, and both Action for Kids (a charity for young people with learning disabilities) and the YMCA with vulnerable residents all within a tiny distance – in my view it would never in a million years qualify for a license under the new legislation. And what woman or girl would honestly feel completely comfortable getting off at the bus stop outside such a club at night when they return home from an evening out?

But even under the existing rules, I believe that the actual detrimental impact on people’s lives as well as the usual noise, litter, etc should be enough to stop the proposal in its tracks.

To sign the petition to the licensing sub-committee go to www.petitiononline.com/lapoff/petition-sign.html.

Lap dancing in Crouch End

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Met on Saturday with the local campaigners from Crouch End who are motivated to take up arms against the application for a ‘gentlemen’s club’ (i.e. lap dancing) at the Music Palace – and after listening to them I don’t blame them.

As a liberal I don’t knee-jerk against the varying tastes and occupations of folk – unless they do harm to others. On this one I have to agree that the potential for harm, nuisance, noise and detrimental impact is high. Plonking such an establishment in a local buzzing busy high street means that it is not ‘out of the way’, it can’t be avoided and women, young girls and children will have to pass it – no choice. Whether or not is is true that men will emerge in a roused state – who knows – but if they do then that could have potential for danger and even if they don’t – women feel vulnerable in the near vicinity.

As to specific worries – well in the immediate area we have Hornsey School for Girls, Action for Kids (charity for vulnerable young people with learning disabilities), Rokesly Junior and Infants School and the YMCA. But even without these particularly vulnerable groups – there are issues for anyone made uncomfortable or concerned or even frightened to walk past. People shouldn’t have to feel intimidated or worried on their own high street.

There is a Bill (am finding out the details) on the licensing of lap-dancing clubs about to go through Parliament where it is widely rumoured that instead of only requiring a normal license – same as clubs and pubs – lap dancing clubs will become for the first time ‘sex encounter establishments’ which would require a different sort of license – same as the sex industry places. I expect that is why there is a shifty on to get licensed before the change in the law – so as the local MP I will be seeking to make any changes in the Bill retrospective too.

The campaigners want me to try and ensure there is a grandfather clause – so that it is not only new lap dancing clubs in the future that have to be licensed for sexual encounter – but that those already in existence (as this one will be if it gets its license) will have to apply for the new type of license which is much stricter on a number of fronts.

So – anyone interested in joining the campaign should contact me, stating you give me permission for me to pass on your name and email address to Alison Lillystone, who is leading the campaign group.

How not to plan ahead: Parkland Walk

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Haringey can’t get it right for getting it wrong. It took a monumental effort to get Parkland Walk in the frame for a facelift and residents were delighted when finally it happened – but apparently just a little while later the revamped and refreshed walk is covered with rubble and mud!

It’s presumably the muck and mess from phase 2 – but how ridiculous to lay a new path etc when there was still work to be done further inside the park. The JCBs have churned up the landscaped reserved and the workmen are dumping earth and stones on the revamped bit. Stupid or what?

They say that the work will be completed by end of March 2009. Whoever phased this work should be hauled over the coals!

Shock as Labour councillor says there are no parking problems in Crouch End

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Local Liberal Democrats have reacted with amazement at comments made by a senior Labour councillor saying that there are no parking troubles in Crouch End, when public demand has forced Haringey Council to introduce a controlled parking zone (CPZ) in the area.

At last night’s planning meeting, Cllr Ray Dodds argued against in-depth surveys commissioned by Haringey Council that show Crouch End is experiencing severe parking stress and refused to oppose an unpopular development that council officers believed would worsen parking problems.

Liberal Democrats are saying this shows how out of touch Labour councillors are with issues of major public concern.

Cllr Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, comments:

“Crouch End has been besieged by parking problems since summer last year. Petitions, deputations to Haringey Council, local press coverage have all come from concerned local residents yet Cllr Dodds seems to be unaware of the most talked about issues in Haringey.”

Cllr Lyn Weber, local Crouch End councillor, adds:

“Cllr Dodds is clearly out of touch with his Environment cabinet colleague Cllr Brian Haley. He appears to be oblivious to the fact that a statutory CPZ consultation has just been undertaken in Crouch End. This just demonstrates that the Labour group is out of touch, not only with real people, but even their own Cabinet Members.”

The planning application to demolish garages and build houses on the Cecile Park site had been fiercely opposed by residents with the support of Crouch End Liberal Democrat David Winskill. Planning Officers recommended to refuse permission. The committee accepted this and Cllr Dodds, who abstained, was isolated in a minority of one.

Councillor David Winskill adds:

“It’s time that developers got the message that these sites are totally unsuitable for housing developments. They should give up and let residents get their lives back.”