Authorities in Blackpool have begun a process they hope will eradicate the town’s lap dancing clubs for good in an attempt to make it more family friendly.

There are currently four clubs operating in the famous seaside resort, but Councillor Adrian Hutton, who chairs the licensing committee, hopes that will drop to zero in the next few years.

Rather than the council forcing venues to cease trading immediately, it is taking a “softly, softly” approach.

When one closes or loses its licence under its current owner “we will not renew the licence for anybody else who came along”, Mr Hutton explained.

Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

He believes the clubs’ popularity is because of stag and hen parties which can have a negative effect on Blackpool’s image as a family destination.

Those in favour of preserving them argue that their existence has no negative impact on the culture of the city – and, if anything, is good for the local economy.

“There is no reason why adult entertainment and family-friendly entertainment can’t exist (together),” said Toni Mansell, a stripper for ten years and now a passionate advocate of the rights of strippers and sex workers.

“We’re not asking anyone to put a topless bar in the middle of Disneyland,” she added.

When the clubs do close, a number of women will inevitably lose their jobs. Ms Mansell believes sex workers are a “very disenfranchised faction of people” and appear to be “under the chopping block all the time”.

But the charity Not Buying It, which campaigns against the porn and sex trades, said that according to a study conducted by the UK strip industry, 70% of dancers make no money by the end of their shift.

In March, protests took place in Bristol over similar plans to close down the lap dancing clubs there, despite the fact that the council’s controversial move could cost more than 100 jobs.

Councillor Hutton said he hopes the two ban will have an impact across the UK.

If the current strategy does not prove successful then the council will “look at it again and see whether we need to take any other actions,” he added.

Related posts:

Teenager arrested after two-year-old boy pulled unresponsive from lake Men who dropped sofa 16ft on top of woman as they removed it from flat spared jail Manhunt suspect arrested over murder of woman and her son G7 Summit 2021: When is it, what’s happening and where is Carbis Bay? Lottery money and the Olympic dream: How is Team GB funded? Police to receive public order training ahead of COP26 climate summit Afghans who helped British forces to be allowed to remain in the UK permanently Blood-spattered lioness, dying herrings and ghost fungus – exhibition shows a ‘planet under pressure’ More than 1,000 big cats, turtles and birds seized as part of worldwide trafficking investigation An estimated 3.7 million people in the UK had COVID in last week of 2021 Are hospitals a hotbed for COVID transmission? Estimated 1.3 million people in UK suffering from long COVID, ONS figures show