Council 'no' to second sex shop (From Western Telegraph)

Council 'no' to second sex shop

A second application to open a sex shop in Haverfordwest was refused by Pembrokeshire County Council planning committee last Thursday.

The application, made by Darker Enterprises, was refused on the grounds that the location, the site of the Olde Smithy Cafe opposite Haverfordwest bus station, was 'in proximity to family shopping areas and places of worship' and because the dominant use of the area was commercial.

Certain committee members shifted uncomfortably in their seats as the spokesman for Darker Enterprises, Clive Sullivan, dealt with each of the council's sex shop guidelines in turn.

The visible discomfort turned to giggles when Councillor Mickey Folland asked why the Essex-based company, which has traded for 20 years with over 80 outlets nationwide, wanted to come to Pembrokeshire. Mr Sullivan explained the company only opened new stores in areas where demand for their products through their mail order business was high.

Numerous church groups appeared to state their moral opposition to such establishments despite Cllr Don Evans' warning that moral grounds had no place in licensing decisions. The most unusual objection came from Mrs Kay Allen, of Kilgetty, who claimed that Pembrokeshire was special and therefore different from every other part of the country.

Mr Sullivan's claim that by refusing to open a licensed sex shop in the town encouraged non-licensed shops to sell sex toys was confirmed by police licensing officer Tony Davies. Mr Davies described shops which used the 'less than 12%' loophole to sell sex products.

Mr Sullivan said: "The company regrets that the council has seen fit to abdicate its responsibility and not exercise its right to control sex establishments in an effective manner. There will be a risk that the citizens will suffer in the long term as this decision leaves the door open for unsupervised activities to go unchecked."