Ampthill lap-dancing club opens despite opposition
- 1 December 2012
- From the section Beds, Herts & Bucks
A lap-dancing club has opened in the centre of a Bedfordshire market town despite large opposition to it.
A small protest was held outside the club in Ampthill on Friday night as it opened for a VIP event.
More than 2,000 people signed a petition to stop it opening, with 700 protesters handing it in to Central Bedfordshire Council last month.
Councillor Brian Spurr said in the end the council had no choice but to grant it a licence.
Mr Spurr said 54 conditions had been imposed on the club before it could open, including no advertising signs, and its manager - John Shaylor - had kept to his promises.
"I'm just hoping that people don't actually go there, then it will close," said Mr Spurr.
Mr Shaylor said earlier this year that his purpose was "not to upset the people of Ampthill" but to put a building he owned back into use.
"I'm not doing it for the Ampthill people, I'm doing it for me," he said.
"I need to make that building earn money."
