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Strip club plan is thrown out after protests
A MASSIVE lap-dancing club has been barred from opening on the doorstep of Clerkenwell's famous jewellery quarter - because there are already too many in the area.
Controversial plans to open a new 300-capacity gentleman's club called Blue Diamond with a 4.30am late licence just yards from Hatton Garden, have been thrown out over fears the area was becoming too sleazy.
Almost 100 irate residents and businesses had objected to the plans including a bridalwear shop, a vicar and even a rival strip club - claiming it would "debase" the reputation of Hatton Garden.
Numerous other lap-dancing and strip joints operate within a 500-metre radius - including neighbouring club Secrets as well as The Griffin, in Clerkenwell Road, and the Chatterbox and Venus nightspots in Farringdon Road.
Blue Diamond, off Holborn Circus, is the latest venture from For Your Eyes Only (FYEO), which opened Europe's biggest lap dancing venue in City Road in 2008.
It would have featured 30 private booths with punters paying £20 a time to have a fully naked female dancer gyrate for their pleasure for three minutes.
FYEO insists it operates a strict "code of conduct" that bans full body contact between customers and dancers and ensures private booths being are not fully curtained-off.
But Camden Council threw out the plans on Thursday, citing "the cumulative effect" of yet strip club opening and its impact on "the quality of life of residents with nearby schools and churches".
A spokeswoman added: "The conditions proposed weren't enough to satisfy the panel that these problems wouldn't occur."
A supporting statement submitted with FYEO's application stated: "These operators have over 30 years experience operating quality late night and adult entertainment establishments. FYEO [has] an excellent relationship with the police in the areas where they operate."
Operations manager Glenn Nicie was unable to say whether FYEO would launch an appeal, adding: "We can't comment because we haven't had the decision notice yet - we'll make a decision when we have that in a week or so."
British Telecom, two lawyers' practices and a private healthcare firm are among the other businesses objecting as well as 50 residents of Jeygrove Court flats, in Hatton Garden.
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