Plans to turn a former warehouse into a swingers club in Armley were approved by Leeds City Council today.
The new club, off Ledgard Way, had seen opposition from a local church, Armley councillors and 11 letters of objection from local residents.
Armley councillor Alice Smart spoke at the Civic Hall meeting and questioned whether there would be a noise nuisance for local residents from the new private members’ club. Planning officers said there wouldn’t be.
Disappointed that #Armley swingers club has been approved despite concerns from local residents, councillors & MP. I spoke & voted against.
— Alice Smart (@Alice_Smart) August 25, 2016
Local concerns included the closeness of the neighbouring Aviary estate and a local primary school, the morality of the plans and extra traffic at a busy junction. There were also concerns over the number of ‘sex-related’ businesses in Armley, which include Cocktails sex shop and gay sauna The Steam Complex.
Councillors sitting on the south and west plans panel said that objections over morality were not enough to prevent the private members club gaining planning permission.
They said there were no grounds in planning law to refuse the application.
Plans include a reception area, bar (serving only non-alcoholic drinks) and 12 private rooms.
The club, which will be based at the back of Pet and Aquatic World, will open 7pm-midnight weekdays and Bank Holidays, and 7pm until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
A planning officer’s report considered this afternoon concluded:
“It is not considered the proposed use would have an adverse impact on residential amenity, or the character of the locality, due to the location of the application and the nature of the use.
“The proposed use is considered to be best suited to a discreet location in a commercial setting, and it is considered this application site provides this.
“The development would ensure that a soon-to-be-vacated property remains occupied, and provides an adequate level of parking for its size, and function.”
The officer said the premises would ‘provide a discreet, clean, safe and controlled environment for like-minded adults to meet and potentially engage in legal sexual activities, within the private rooms provided.’
The Dispatch reported on the submission of the plans here and last month featured concerns from residents attending Armley Forum.
If you want somebody to blame, blame Labour. They were the ones who bought in the Licensing Act 2003, which makes it very difficult for anybody to oppose an establishment like this. It is that act that caused the arrival of all those lap dancing clubs in the city centre.