'Ladies nights' at community centre 'immoral'

Plans to hold "ladies nights" and "adult-only events" at a community centre have been branded "immoral".

Red Lodge Millennium Centre, near Newmarket, in Suffolk, applied to expand its range of events and extend its opening hours up until 01:00 for some activities.

However, Red Lodge Parish Council "vehemently objects" to the application on the grounds of nuisance, immoral purposes and it being a substantial variation to the current licensed activities, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A decision is due to be made at a West Suffolk Council meeting on 7 October.

The new licence, if granted, would replace the existing two licences which apply to the bar area and the rest of the site separately.

The applicant said it also wanted to be able to host "dance performances" as well as boxing or wrestling.

As part of its objection, the parish council said: "The Millennium Centre Charity hosts entertainment which is inappropriate for a building, which is identified as a community centre, such as striptease shows which could be regarded as offensive and beer festivals which are not appropriate for a community centre either and promote an undesirable culture.

“These events are inappropriate to be held in a building owned and associated with local government.

“The variation of the licence would negatively impact the village of Red Lodge in numerous ways which negate any benefits that this variation may offer.”

Suffolk Police put forward a number of conditions which included asking customers who appeared to be under 25 for ID.

The applicant agreed and said they had number of measures in place, including:

• CCTV
• Security staff for large events
• Notices reminding people to leave quietly
• Bottles emptied into banks before 23:00
• Music lowered after 23:00
• A maximum of 499 people allowed at events

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