We can all sleep soundly in our beds (or someone else's bed) knowing Winchester is a bastion of propriety. The Echo reports there will be no lap dancing clubs or other sex centred businesses in our capital city thanks to the Licensing Committee.

I’ve never been to a lap dancing club nor have I any interest in visiting one but I see no problem in this kind of entertainment if someone wants to pay for it. Now that I have my own business, I am more aware than ever that market forces should be respected. Just because someone doesn’t like something (and I myself am uncomfortable with activities that seem to objectify women), doesn’t mean we should ban it, providing it doesn’t interfere directly with our own lives or business.

We live in tolerant times. Most of us accept other people’s varying sexuality, race, gender and so on. Ann Summers shops are a common sight on the high street (not Winchester High Street, of course). When I worked in theatre, it was particularly important that the management and staff didn’t try to impose their views. I despised certain comedians but I still promoted their concerts. Ushers might find Girls Night Out or The Rocky Horror Show shocking but they had to grin and bear it (not literally- their job descriptions fell short of staff participation).

One thing I did find puzzling was a lap dance club owner’s comment that 'at most lap dance clubs there is nothing sexually entertaining on offer.' Maybe I’m missing the point. Then again, for all I know sex shops provide healthcare products and strip joints are really naturist clubs.

I don’t think there’s any need to disguise or apologise for the fact that sexual desire is natural. I understand we may want restrictions on public displays but the mere fact that some people find sexual activity a cause for embarrassment shouldn’t stop others from satisfying their desire whether through commercial or consensual activitity.

Businesses satisfy demand. Do we really have the right to stand in the way of the market unless we can prove with solid evidence that it is harmful?

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