COUNCILLORS are calling for a new policy to deal with sex shop applications in Weymouth.

Borough councillors said at a full Weymouth and Portland Borough Council meeting that Weymouth was in danger of becoming known for its sex shops rather than its beaches.

There was concern that councillors did not have a policy in place to deal with applications for sex shops and lap-dancing establishments and it left the borough open to becoming a licenced sex area.

Councillor John Birtwistle asked if the council could legally say no to applications for lap dancing and sex shop licences.

He said the council had found itself with a sex shop in King Street, Weymouth, because there was no policy in place to say no.

He added: "I would hope that we are able to make our own decisions and if we find ourselves effectively being forced by the Government to do something we would not like we will not hesitate to say so."

Councillor Kate Wheller said it was the fault of the borough council if there was no policy in place, not the Government's, and that no one was forcing them to open sex shops or lap dancing establishments.

She said the case of the borough having sex shops and possibly ending up with two lap- dancing establishments was because councillors had been very slow in developing a policy on this.

Chairman of the licensing committee councillor David Mannings said that a policy had been requested and was now in draft form.

He said: "We should have had a policy a long time ago and the council is at fault for not foreseeing this when there was already a sex shop in the town."

A meeting to discuss two applications for lap dancing establishments and the draft licensing policy will be held on April 16.