Council refuses to ban strip clubs in the Highlands as dancers finally have their say on the new Sexual Entertainment Venue policy saying their jobs are '100 per cent' safe and a councillor's belly-dancing days is raised in the debate
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Highland Council has refused to limit the number of sex entertainment venues in the region after those who work in the industry finally had their say amid fears the north’s only strip club could have been forced to close.
It means that the north’s only strip club will not now be closed, as had been fears by staff, after a number of responses to a consultation on a new draft policy to license sex entertainment venues sparked fury by calling for an effective ban.
Bodies such as NHS Highland and the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership (HVAWP) alleged a great deal of harm is done to women as strippers generally.
The HVAWP chairman DCI Donald MacDonald said: “Verbal, physical and sexual harassment and assault of lap dancers is standard and constant. This is carried out by punters and staff alike. Assault includes GBH, stalking, rape and gang rape.”
That was rubbished both by a spokesman for the club who described the claims as “shameful” and “fantasy” and later one of the dancers Kelsey Johnson also added her voice to that saying she feels 100 per cent safe working there.
Ms Johnson said: “I feel 100 per cent safe at Private Eyes, there's absolutely no reason not to, we have so much security and the staff put the girls safety and happiness first always.
“It's such a great atmosphere and so far from the sleazy and dangerous environment that these groups, who have likely never stepped foot into a strip club, are trying to portray.”
But councillors on the Licensing Committee sided against a ban and favoured taking each application on a case by case basis.
The debate took an unusual turn when one member’s belly dancing days were raised by Councillor Duncan Macpherson.
“Since we have Cllr Liz MacDonald here," he said. "The first time I ever saw her featured in the newspaper was when she, as a councillor, was doing a charity belly dance at the time.
"So did she feel exploited, did somebody force her hand or did she do that freely and willingly, as we are talking about the exploitation of women?
“Cllr MacDonald lives in Nairn and I have been in Nairn on a very hot and sunny afternoon and I have seen more being exposed outside McDonalds on Inverness High Street on a Saturday evening than on Nairn beach on a Saturday afternoon.
“This is a regulated environment, we have heard from one of the women who work there, I am told by people, they practise, they perform, they are like athletes and gymnasts in terms of what they do.
“I did some research on this and if they are very good and they work the circuit they can earn as much as a premier league footballer and if we were to curtail that they would be denied the ability to earn that for themselves and their families.”
Cllr MacDonald replied: “I love all forms of dancing, I was a Guiness World Record holder in belly dancing myself and I think it is about whatever people like and enjoy and they are doing it willingly.
“When I was dancing and performing I loved it, you get a real buzz out of dancing though I haven’t danced for over 10 years now, it was certainly a big part of my life that I really enjoyed and I am sure they get a lot from it too.”
