More protests over lapdancing plans

Photograph: Wojtek Szymczak

An estimated two hundred people gathered in Bonn Square last Saturday to protest against lap dancing at Thirst Lodge.

Members of St. Ebbe’s Church, local residents, students and leaders of the local Muslim community came together to protest against the establishment of Thirst Lodge as a sex encounter venue.

Kat Wall, OUSU’s Women’s Officer, told Cherwell, “We’ve come together with various different groups from across the community to say that we don’t want lap dancing to take place here. The main reason for this protest is, basically, we’re very concerned about the harms that will be put on many members of the community.”

Oxford City Council leader, Bob Price, urged the public to sign a petition against the Lodge’s plans to host lap dancing. He said, “We’re very opposed to this application because it runs entirely counter to our image of what the city centre should be about, and as many speakers this afternoon have said, it would certainly raise the possibility of more crime and violence and attacks on women in this area.”

An online petition campaigning against lap dancing at Thirst Lodge on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance has over 1000 signatures.

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Comments

Captain Parry-Thorperston

25th February at 7.55pm

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"...it would certainly raise the possibility of more crime and violence and attacks on women in this area." No, it wouldn't - all of the violence against women would take place inside Thirst Lodge behind closed doors instead of out on the streets. The "image of what the city centre should be about" will be vastly improved - out of sight, out of mind: winner winner chicken dinner.

Bloke

25th February at 11.28pm

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Has anyone told these prudes that if they weren't protesting, noone would even know about the strippers? As far as I know, Thirst aren't allowed to advertise at all, and you can't see inside. Anyway, grow up. The fact that Oxford didn't have a strip joint was weird. Blokes like to see naked ladies. It's just a fact. Harmless fun.

BetaMale

2nd March at 1.15am

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...a line from Bill Bailey, commenting on the tritone interval. Also, check out Fry & Laurie's "Sex and Violence" sketch on YouTube. The point of this story: simply reading this article has aroused me to sexually assault someone. Several people, in fact. Let's see if I can find 199 people to campaign with me at this gross injustice.