There is "no more we can do" to close a loophole in the law around strip clubs says Cheltenham's licensing committee chair.

Cllr Dr David Willingham said it is now up to the public to pressure the Government to pay attention to the issue.

Politicians have lobbied the government for years to change a law which allows Sexual Entertainment Venues (SEVs) to operate on an unregulated pop-up basis.

Rather than letting this happen Cheltenham chiefs have chosen to issue licences for Eroticats to operate at two venues in town during race events.

On Wednesday it renewed the licence for European Events Consultants Ltd to run its strip club events at Under The Prom. In November it also renewed the licence for Eroticats to operate at Jessop House in Cambray Place.

The latest vote went through unanimously despite objectors once again fighting against the club, saying it "cheapens the town and normalizes sleaze".

Supporters said the licence allows the club to be run safely rather than possibly going underground.

During the meeting Cllr Dr David Willingham, chairs of the licensing committee, listed the steps that had been taken to try to close the loophole which include:

• writing to the Local Government Association
• writing to the Institute of Licensing
• writing to the previous Government
• writing to the current Government
• former Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk raising the issue in Parliament
• Nigel David Jones, former Baron Jones of Cheltenham, raising the issue in the House Of Lords
• current Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson raising the issue in Parliament.

Cllr Willingham said in all cases they had been told there was no interest in looking into a law change.

"I genuinely do not think there is any more this council can do," he said. "If you want the law changed people need to write to Jess Phillips via the Home Office."

He said in the meantime it was better to licence the venue so it could be regulated and checks carried out by officers and police.

Spot checks in March 2024 found breaches of the businesses licence as dancers were seen touching each other and members of the public.

Club bosses were issued with a written warning and council offices and police said they were satisfied with steps that had been taken to prevent further rule breaking.

Members of the committee heard that no other written complaints have been received regarding the club and the times and hours applied for were the same as previously approved.

The strip club business, owned by Steven Burrows, has been licensed to operate at 109- 13 The Promenade since 2023 and has always courted controversy.

The council received more than 80 letters, both in support and objecting to the renewal application by his business European Events Consultants Ltd.

It asked for a change to two conditions to loosen some rules about how it operates.

Bosses at Eroticats can now go out soliciting for customers to be rounded up in a courtesy vehicle and taken to the venue during race meets.

Objectors had pleaded with Cheltenham Borough Council to "hold firm" and not to "water down" its licensing conditions as they were "an attempt to mitigate the inherent harem of strip clubs".

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday (Feb 5) one objector pointed out that the council's own 2020 community impact statement describes the "inherent risk for performers" working in SEVs and states the council is aware that females in particular feel disadvantaged, objectified and intimidated" by strip clubs.

She added: "This is not a moral issue, it is one of public protection safeguarding and the council's duty of care to its local community."

She asked for the council not to give up on lobbying the Government to close the loophole. 

"You are in a difficult position but life is full of those and you don't just stop, you keep plugging away. It really feels like Cheltenham is getting the raw end of the deal with this exemption."

Supporters maintained that regulating the venue means it can operate safely within the law.

Philip Jordan, owner of Under The Prom, spoke in support of the application as did Eroticats' senior housemother, who is responsible for booking after dancers.

She said: "The conversation must shift from trying to take opportunities away from women to earn money in a safe place to policing the bad behaviour of men.

She added: "If we don't have a licence for these events you run the risk of unlicensed pop-ups operating underground. Those people will exploit the women and the customers for quick cash."

Cheltenham Borough Council voted unanimously to grant the application.

It allows Eroticats to open at Under The Prom from Monday to Friday during the week of Cheltenham Festival in March, and on the Friday and Saturday of the November Meeting races.

Punchline says: "This is an issue we have followed since the start and always divides opinion. The council has done everything it possibly can to close the loophole. If it is, they would be able to refuse a licence, knowing clubs cannot then legally pop-up in an unregulated manner.

"In the meantime they are between the devil and the deep blue sea.

"Whether you agree with strip clubs or not, a licensed venue that can be checked by police is always better than an underground one where women can be exploited."