Church loses appeal over lapdancing (From thisisoxfordshire)
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Church loses appeal over lapdancing
6:26pm Wednesday 30th June 2010 in
A CHURCH has been left with a £12,000 legal bill after a judge dismissed its appeal to stop lapdancing at a city club.
The Rev Vaughan Roberts, rector of St Ebbe’s Church, took Thirst Lodge to a three-day trial at Oxford Magistrates’ Court after it changed from a nightclub to a strip club in October.
The change of use at the Pennyfarthing Place site was approved by the city council licensing committee but the church lodged an appeal.
Today, Deputy District Judge Gary Lucie threw out the appeal after finding there was no public nuisance, the church’s activities rarely overlapped with Thirst Lodge’s opening hours and crime and disorder had actually fallen.
He said the moral argument on lapdancing venues could not be explored under current legislation.
Following the verdict, Craig Baylis, representing Thirst Lodge’s Rob Opher, asked for £25,000 costs and Deputy District Judge Lucie agreed to £12,000.
Speaking outside court, Mr Roberts said: “We felt absolutely we had grounds for appeal and for the sake of the church and the city of Oxford it was right to bring it.”
Comments(13)
Joe Cooke
says...
8:13pm Wed 30 Jun 10
Andrew:Oxford
says...
9:58pm Wed 30 Jun 10
Joe Cooke wrote:What do you get in return for putting money in a church plate?
I just can't believe these guys pay 500 quid for a bottle of champagne just to get some bird to dance by them.
The Great Gilbert Grape
says...
8:20am Thu 1 Jul 10
tonho
says...
8:54am Thu 1 Jul 10
Andrew:Oxford wrote:\o/ win!
Joe Cooke wrote:What do you get in return for putting money in a church plate?
I just can't believe these guys pay 500 quid for a bottle of champagne just to get some bird to dance by them.
Wallingford2
says...
9:23am Thu 1 Jul 10
Rubbish. YOU dont like it, not the whole of Oxford. Now you'll be moaning about 12K bill you've been left with too no doubt. Ridiculous waste of time and money.
online_reader
says...
9:49am Thu 1 Jul 10
The Great Gilbert Grape wrote:...or me.
Never been to the venue, however I am pleased that they won this case. Rev Roberts, I am a Oxford resident and you don't speak for me!!
LadyPenelope
says...
10:02am Thu 1 Jul 10
newcy
says...
10:30am Thu 1 Jul 10
Paul Wesson
says...
2:50pm Thu 1 Jul 10
http://kingjbible.co
m/songs/1.htm
The language of the King James version is beautiful and it is clear that somebody, possibly Solomon, is about to spend the night betwixt the breasts of a girl described as black and comely. Were I so lucky?
Funny thing religion. Personally I prefer those Christians who lead by example rather than those who would force their personal version of God's word on us. I think God will decide who the sinners are when the time comes and it might not be those who think they are going to get an easy time on resurrection day.
sinless69uk
says...
4:43pm Thu 1 Jul 10
Do we want decent lapdance customers offended by the nonsense that they peddle in these places?
rickenback
says...
5:41pm Thu 1 Jul 10
jackjackjack
says...
7:33pm Thu 1 Jul 10
The Church has serious problems with sexual abuse of children within the clergy. It seems hypocritical that such an organisation should be taking people to court for "immoral" practices.
You'd think they'd tidy their own back garden before moaning about the neighbours
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G. says...
7:59pm Wed 30 Jun 10
Who gives this group the voice of the whole of Oxford? they should only voice their own minority opinion and not take it on themselves to falsely represent the whole town.