Yes to lap dancing at Thirst Lodge, Pennyfarthing Place, Oxford

We the undersigned support the granting of the licence on 10 December 2009 that allows Lap Dancing at the premises currently known as Thirst Lodge. We petition for this licence NOT to be withdrawn on the following grounds: The centre of Oxford, including the area around Thirst Lodge, is very heavily policed at night, as well as very busy with locals and students. There is no way that a strip club in this area will have a significant impact on the number of rapes and sexual assults. Strip clubs are 'low key', both for reasons of client privacy and to maintain a good image and smart appearence. If anything, the club will reduce the 'significant disturbance to neighbours because of noise and people congregating outside the club', because people are more likely to stay inside the club, and because the aim of a strip club night is not to get drunk and party, but to enjoy some laid back entertainment with friends/partners. Both men AND women attend these clubs, and I'm sure there will be bouncers, like at any night time venue, for safety and control, so I doubt there will be any sexually stimulated behaviour intimidating women in the area. Rape and sexual assult are extremely rare cases of behaviour, and having a strip club in a busy town centre is realistically just not going to affect this at all. The Westgate carpark is accesible without going remotely near Thirst Lodge if you are so mortified about passing by a strip club. And no I dont have anything to do with the club itself, I just think people should be allowed something like this, even if it goes against your moral viewpoint.