A STORM is brewing over plans to turn a Sheffield nightspot into a strip club.
Religious leaders, politicians and residents have lodged objections to proposals to transform Steelhouse, on the corner of West Street and Carver Lane in the city centre, into a lap dancing venue.
Bar bosses want to open a sexual entertainment venue with booths, a stage and dancing poles – but the plans have been labelled ‘seedy’.
Canon Joanne Grenfell, of Sheffield Cathedral, said: “Strip clubs undermine women in society by presenting them in an unequal way as objects for sexual gratification.
“There are other similar venues in Sheffield and it is impossible to see why more should be needed.”
Peter Sephton, Sheffield city centre residents’ action group chairman, said: “It is close to one of Sheffield’s major tourist venues, City Hall. This gives the wrong impression to city visitors.”
Paul Blomfield, Sheffield Central MP, said: “At a time when there is considerable debate about the effect of access to sexual images on our children, it would seem particularly damaging to see this development occur at the heart of the city.”
No date has been set for a decision from Sheffield Council on a change of use for the Victorian building.
Planners Barrett and Barrett Architects said: “The venue will have variety of uses, as well as a traditional bar serving alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, there will be a striptease show, with the dancing girls doing a strip on the stage or dance pole and private dancing for individual customers in the private booths.
“We see no reason why the proposals would not be fully supported by the planning department.”
Comments