Lapdancers are taking a stand against calls to ban strip clubs in Bristol.
They believe they should be free to earn money how they like and their venues are important to the city’s night-time economy.
The manager of Central Chambers in the centre has launched a petition urging the council to keep them open.
It is in response to one that has been submitted urging the local authority to close down adult entertainment venues.
Carrie Hale, who runs Central Chambers in St Stephen Street, said restricting these clubs would be grossly unfair and would limit her dancers’ freedom to make a living.
Less than two years ago, the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) were reduced from four to three in the BS1 postcode, which covers the city centre and Old Market.
Changes in licences meant regulations governing the way such clubs were run also became more stringent.
But, last month, an online petition was launched by a member of the public called Thomas Oliver.
It asked mayor George Ferguson and councillors to change the licensing policy so that no lap-dancing or strip clubs would be allowed. It now has 153 signatures in support of it.
Ms Hale then submitted her petition and is waiting for it to go live.
She told the Bristol Post: "Basically, we’re setting up a petition counter-acting the other one asking for ‘nil’ strip clubs in Bristol.
"We believe it is massively unfair. What is it based on?
"At the end of the day, we don’t force the girls to work here. People should be allowed to do what they want to earn a living, as long as it’s legal.
"People aren’t forced to go into strip clubs either. They choose to and they should be allowed to spend their money how they like.
"If you got rid of all the strip clubs you wouldn’t have the stag dos coming to Bristol. That would have a knock-on effect on the local economy – the hotels, the bars, the activities they do during the day would all suffer.
"It’s not just men who come to Central Chambers. We regularly have hen dos coming in to learn pole dancing as well as lots of women who come here for a social drink on a night out."
Ms Hale has managed the club for more than a decade, during which time she says she has had no licensing breaches.
She added: "I definitely run a tight ship and all this bad publicity is beginning to annoy us now.
"There are lots of things I don’t like but I don’t go out and try to stop people in Bristol doing them."
In 2011, licensing chiefs in Bristol agreed there should be a maximum of two SEVs in the city centre and one in Old Market. They are Central Chambers and Urban Tiger in the city centre, and Temptations in Old Market, which the Post recently covered when it was fined for licensing breaches including inappropriate contact between performers and customers.
The licences of all three clubs are due for renewal this autumn.
The petition for no SEVs in Bristol reads: "Whilst the council cannot prevent organisations from making applications to establish these kinds of venues they are able to amend licensing policies to specify the appropriate number of these venues in particular areas.
"We therefore propose this minor amendment to licensing policy as a means to limit, reduce and potentially end the presence of sexual entertainment venues in our city centre."
City council spokeswoman Vicky O’Loughlin said: "As a regulatory function the decision whether to review the policy lies with the licensing committee. No formal decision has been taken to review the policy at this stage."
On-line petitions only need ten signatures before they can be submitted to the relevant council committee or officer.
It is then decided whether a debate is needed, a report commissioned or, in the case of the licensing committee, whether there are grounds for a licence to be reviewed.
Another pro-stripping e-petition has been launched by Chris Cox, which has two signatures.
Possibly tongue-in-cheek, it states: "Currently there is a lack of strip clubs in Bristol, with a council imposed limit of three clubs. This stifles competition and increases prices.
" In these tough economic times it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the money for a weekly lap dance, which for many is an essential aspect of modern life, to relieve the stress of a tough working week."
