A SPECIAL hearing is to be held into applications for two lap dancing clubs because so many objections have been lodged, and the legal issues are so complex.
Both applications were supposed to be heard yesterday by Glasgow's licensing board, a statutory body outwith council control although all its members are councillors. One is for Royal Exchange Square and the other Argyle Street.
The licensing board is particularly aware that its scope to refuse the licences is narrow, after Legs 'n' Co, which applied to set up a club, won an appeal in the Court of Session four years ago. The court ruled there must be firm evidence of unacceptable behaviour before refusing a licence.
Glasgow City Council is among the objectors, and has ordered research into alleged links between lap dancing clubs and prostitution as well as exploitation of women and effects on the community.
It has employed an advocate, Robert Skinner, to present its objections, based mainly on a council policy that lap dancing demeans and exploits women.
These objections are thought to have no statutory basis.
Research on the issue is being conducted by the child and woman abuse studies unit at London Metropolitan University, but it is not known if this would be available in time for the hearing.
The first application is by Privilege Glasgow, which wants to open a club targeting ''professional audiences'' on the site of the Mas nightclub in Royal Exchange Square. The second is by For Your Eyes Only, a London-based firm which insists its proposed club, in Argyle Street, will be a ''top quality operation''.
Numerous businesses in Royal Exchange Square have lodged objections. Opponents of the Argyle Street club include David Comley, Glasgow's social work director.
Gordon Macdiarmid, the licensing board's convener, said at yesterday's meeting that a special hearing would be held because of the impact the large number of objections would have on disposing of other business.
He added that the board was also aware legal points arising from the applications could lead to adjournments. A date for the hearing has still to be fixed.
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