Opposed Richmond sex shop will stay (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
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Opposed Richmond sex shop will stay
10:10am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News By Amy Dyduch
Open: The only sex establishment in the borough
A sex shop in Richmond will continue trading after the council renewed its licence, despite repeated objections.
Private Shop, at 111 Kew Road, Richmond, has been open for almost 10 years, and will continue to hold its licence to trade from 9.30am until 8pm, Monday to Saturday.
Ward councillor for North Richmond Stephen Speak was at the licensing meeting at York House on March 19.
He said: “Legally it is very difficult to turn down because it is already in place, so I am not surprised by the outcome.
“It has been highlighted as one of the things that isn’t nice about the area and therefore I felt it was appropriate to oppose it.
“In a place where we want to encourage families to be and to encourage businesses and retail therapy, it is not an appropriate place for it.”
The council has a policy of no sex establishments in the borough, which is discretionary for new applications rather than grounds to refuse a licence.
The shop, which has a plain brown front and blinds pulled down, has always complied with the terms of its licence, but religious groups have protested the application every year, the meeting heard.
Objectors highlighted nearby Falcons Prep School as an issue, but the council did not receive any objections from the school itself.
Brian Yeo, 54, who works as a full time sales assistant in the shop, said: “Everything is fine, we have never had any problems.
“I know they have to renew the licence every year and people always object but no one ever says anything to me.
“People come in here, buy their stuff and then they leave. It can be busy – you can get a good day when there’ll be 15 or 16 customers or a day where you will only get two.
“It is not a rocket through the roof but it is getting by – obviously it would, otherwise they wouldn’t keep it open.”
Comments(8)
EdwinaWaugh
says...
2:20pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Obviously Richmond Council are happy to get their hands on money from the rates. Barnes Common has a louche reputation and attracts characters out for encounters. Why not transfer the shop there, and thus prevent disturbing the neighborhood.”
Twickenham Man
says...
4:27pm Sat 23 Mar 13
ChrisSquire
says...
2:29pm Sun 24 Mar 13
EdwinaWaugh
says...
4:48pm Sun 24 Mar 13
Remember, Chris, "They don't like it up 'em"! ;-)
kingstonpaul
says...
1:10pm Mon 25 Mar 13
As with any development of this kind, let the market determine its fortunes. If there's no demand, it'll close. Alternatively, if there's enough demand, well doesn't that just tell us a little something about Kew residents!!!
TheParkie
says...
1:34pm Mon 25 Mar 13
Twickenham Man
says...
1:47pm Mon 25 Mar 13
kingstonpaul wrote:I believe that the author that wrote 50 shades of Grey comes from Brentford. Maybe some of it has been blown across the Thames by the wind
It all adds to the rich gaiety of Kew (no pun intended, honest...). As does the fabricated moral outrage of local residents.
As with any development of this kind, let the market determine its fortunes. If there's no demand, it'll close. Alternatively, if there's enough demand, well doesn't that just tell us a little something about Kew residents!!!
EdwinaWaugh says...
2:17pm Sat 23 Mar 13
Obviously Richmond Council are happy to get their hands on money from the rates. Barnes Common has a louche reputation and attracts characters out for encounters. Why not transfer the shop there, and thus prevent disturbing the neighborhood.”