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[Jennifer Martin]

Residents objecting to plans for a lap-dancing club have discovered the venue is used to shoot adult movies - and host outrageous parties. ALISTAIR HARRIS investigates

They say what you don't know can't hurt you. But residents in Bar Lane, Basford, got a bit more than they bargained for when they objected to plans for a lap-dancing club across the road.

Because they soon found out that a whole range of "adult" activity was already taking place on the Bar Lane industrial estate.

Model Sensations, whose website gives its address as units 19 to 25 on the estate, is a studio where members of the public can run their own pornographic photo shoots or make their own adult films.

And when the Post, posing as a potential punter, contacted a man called Mark whose contact number is given on the website, he told us all about what was available.

He said the studio itself could be hired for three hours for just ?45 - and it was possible to hire a model to star in your own, bespoke video, which would cost about ?225.

He said: "The studio's been there for three years in March.

"We've had fetish and swingers parties. We had 75 at the last one in the studio. It's big enough - but with over 50 it gets a bit claustrophobic."

The owner was more than happy to tell us about the proposed lap-dancing club, too.

He said: "Yeah, we've got a 250-capacity club that will be available soon.

"It was supposed to be opening last week but we've got a planning issue. It will be the middle of January or February before we open.

"But that will be a fully licensed adult club, with lap-dancing, strippers, cabaret."

Nottingham City Council confirmed it has received a licence application to convert Unit 19 into an adult club.

However residents are worried about the impact on the neighbourhood.

They collected 170 signatures opposing the application. But it was a shock for them to discover that adult activity has been taking place so near their homes for two-and-a-half years.

Mum-of-three Amanda Magee, 38, from Bar Lane, said: "We found out they had been over there for years, making adult films and having fetish parties. We spoke to the owner and he said, 'we've caused you no problems'.

"But they're going to cause a problem now. It's a very respectable area. I'm totally against the lap-dancing club. I don't want gangs of young lads hanging around, or stag groups drunk and disorderly. I've got three children, aged eight, 12 and 14, and it makes me worry for their safety."

A 45-year-old mother from Bar Lane said: "We got 170 names on the petition against the club in two hours. Bar Lane doesn't want it.

"Then we found out about the studio. You never notice what's under your nose, do you?

But a Bar Lane dad, who has opposed the lap-dancing application, said he was now "pretty much on the fence", adding: "I've never seen one model, cameraman, never heard any noise from that studio. He has kept it a secret from us all."

One woman who works on the estate said about the studio: "Oh! I heard that. I didn't know if it was true. I thought it was all rumour.

"I have been trying to get a peep but I've never seen anybody through the walls!"

And Daniel Birch, manager of the John Birch Sports Centre, said: "It shouldn't affect our business. It doesn't affect us so it doesn't matter."

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen is opposing the lap-dancing plans.

He said: "I wasn't aware of the studio. But I don't think it needs to go any further. I don't want it to be extended. Making it a higher-profile establishment would not be something I would want in the area. It's bad enough as it is.

"He might have kept the studio secret but this is a different order of magnitude. It's very public, advertised, it's out in the public domain now. I will be keeping an eye now on the existing licence as well as opposing any extension."

"In an area with such low educational attainment and high levels of deprivation, the problem will simply be amplified."

Peter Plummer, head teacher at nearby Ellis Guilford school, also said he was opposing the lap-dancing application. "We've had discussions with the education leader and one or two local residents," he said. "We think it's rather inappropriate to have it so close to the school and are putting in an official objection."

Tony Wilkinson, the solicitor acting on the applicant's behalf, said: "I have not been instructed to say anything by my clients at this time."

Two lap-dancing or table-dancing licences have already been granted in the city - at Senoritas, off Lenton Boulevard in Lenton, and Bar Humbug, in Friary Chambers, off Friar Lane.

A city council spokeswoman said the application in for unit 19 was a licence for lap-dancing, pole-dancing and table-dancing involving full nudity and would be considered on December 22.

She said there was no licence attached to the site at the moment, but they would not need one unless they were selling films from the premises.

This was printed without us even saying a word yes they did call Mark and ask about booking the studio but never did he say that we have had swingers parties or that we had 75 at the last one so please go to the News Papers web site and leave a supporting message as we are due to see their reporter in the morning and would like to print off loads of supporting comments to take with us.

[one eyed jack]

This is a job for (rips open shirt to reveal big S on chest) UK Producers dot com.

Seriously though, you guys are producers as well so I suggest you also take this cause to our forum also. I'm sure the good folk here might be able to do their bit but we can also help you too. Come on over and we'll do this our way.

[KayJay]

You forgot that article as well.

Obviously with no shootings in the city, a slow news day.

[davewells]

If you get the required permission and/or licence guys FUCK EM !

[dedra]

What can i say? Its lynching time in old nottingham town
hope my lites and sound are safe from the howling mob

[TheProf]

I can never understand the British-We don't want these things taking place near us,yet secretly,they are all wanking like mad over the contents when published.It's a love hate relationship we have with SEX (dare I say this word) the Brits have.
Actually,Babies come through the post by mail order.Making love to produce them or for a bit of fun, is a myth the media drum up.

Ladies taking clothes off & displaying flesh at the bottom of our road is dirty,and to think the husbands might get the idea of wanting to see such perversion is beyond belief.

Sex is what makes the World tick,well,only in whispers,please...and under plain wrapper.

[DanG]

Will the council be looking to evict Mrs. Magee as well? Unless all of her kids are adopted, it means she's had wild, unprotected sex at least 3 times, probably without the relevant STD tests too. Yes, I know it was probably all done behind closed doors, away from the prying eyes of the public, but I don't think thats the kind of person I'd want in my neighbourhood....it sets a bad example, especially in an area of such low educational attainment and high deprivation...this 'sex' thing should be banned, I tell you!

[Cerberus]

"Mum-of-three Amanda Magee, 38, from Bar Lane, said: "We found out they had been over there for years, making adult films and having fetish parties. We spoke to the owner and he said, 'we've caused you no problems'.
"But they're going to cause a problem now."

Bollocks.....only people causing a problem are the local rag ( Alistair Harris) & rabble rousers running a N.O.T.W. vendetta/expose to sell a few more papers.

"Nottingham North MP Graham Allen is opposing the lap-dancing plans. He said: "I wasn't aware of the studio. But I don't think it needs to go any further. I don't want it to be extended. Making it a higher-profile establishment would not be something I would want in the area. It's bad enough as it is.
I will be keeping an eye now on the existing licence as well as opposing any extension."...."In an area with such low educational attainment and high levels of deprivation, the problem will simply be amplified."

I bet he will! busy cruising All Saints Terrace as well.
What a patronising twat.....must keep the uneducated prolls away from sex at all costs. Wake up mate! it's 2005 not 1837!
If the area is as bad as you suggest get up off your arse & do something about it to repay those uneducated, deprived, mindless constituents who voted you into your priveleged position.
Why can't these detractors support a succesful local business? Instead of trying to rabble rouse & create yet another inner city vacant lot.
GOOD LUCK to you Jennifer, don't let the little minds in Bully Britain beat you down.

[one eyed jack]

The bit I find rather amusing is the fact its been going on for years and suddenly people find out and (shock, horror) not in our neighbourhood.

Its strange what people expect when something like this happens like the young gang of vandals loitering, dirty mac brigade and ho's getting beat down by pimps when nothing like that has happened in years...on the contrary people who engage in private activities such as this do not want to draw attention towhat they are doing so are better suited to conduct themselves responsibly. In fact its the locals who really have the sleazy minds for thinking the way they do. They are the ones who should be ashamed.

What kind of society do we live in were you pay your rents and cant do what you want (within reason) behind closed doors? Sex is hardly terrorism is it?

Its no wonder that all the main swinging clubs are up north because adults need an outlet too. Better in a venue than the streets I think. The council should be giving you a grant for assistance Jennifer.