PLANNERS have agreed to a new lap dancing club in Southampton's heritage area.

For Your Eyes Only is set to open a club in Below Bar next year after planning chiefs gave it the green light.

The company is to take over the Bar Med building in High Street and black out its windows.

But the move has sparked fears that prostitutes could flock to the old town conservation area near listed buildings and the remains of the Holy Rood Church.

Southampton city team rector the Rev Ian Johnson said: "My concern would be that there may be an increase in prostitution in the neighbourhood just outside of where this strip club will be.

"I would rather see these things as far away from residential communities as possible so this may be the right place for it. But I don't really want it in my parish.

"I just think it is a great shame that they can make money out of what they are selling."

Richard Raper, agent for For Your Eyes Only, said: "We are aching to go ahead with this now.

"We have only got to agree some finer details with the council and hopefully we can have it open next year.

"The music level will be more like a restaurant and there will be no queuing."

He added that For Your Eyes Only was a reputable national company that for three years operated a club, now called TUSK, in London Road without problems.

Southampton City Council planning committee chairman June Bridle said: "My naivety doesn't lead me to believe that For Your Eyes Only is the sort of place only James Bond would go to.

"But there is very little that we can object to in terms of the planning regulations."

Committee member Susan Blatchford said: "It is a shame that Southampton is becoming a smut and sleaze city with this club and the announcement about a statue for Benny Hill."