A STRIP club has had its licence renewed despite objections from residents who fear it could lead to "half-naked girls standing outside".

Playhouse, on London Road, applied to renew its licence which currently allows it to operate as a sexual entertainment venue and serve alcoholic drinks until 4.30am every day.

However, due to an earlier closing planning permission on the premises, it closes every day by 2am.

Read more: Calls for strip club licence to be refused over opening hours concerns

One resident said: “It is my belief that this is not a suitable area for such a club.

“I have witnessed half-naked girls standing outside the front of the building smoking cigarettes and vaping, although this does not happen every night, I have seen it on several occasions. I do not think that this is appropriate behaviour.”

Another concerned resident said: “I would appreciate being able to walk out of my building at 5am and not be afraid, or having some drunk person eating a McDonald’s on my post box.”

The licence renewal does not mean the club will now be able to stay open till 5am, as planning permission still requires it to close earlier.

However, it allows it to extend their opening hours in the future.

Read more: Strip club loses fight to extend opening hours over noise concerns

Most of the concerns raised by residents were about noise, with crowds of people "screaming", "shouting" and "chanting" on the street late at night.

However, the club’s lawyer told Wednesday’s licensing meeting that these concerns were ill-founded.

Piers Warne, the solicitor for Playhouse, said: “It doesn’t attract hundreds of people. It doesn’t equate to what happens in a nightclub. Most customers come in by taxi and leave by taxi.”

Mr Warne also spoke about how there is a lot more scrutiny over who goes in to the club – and how the age demographic is far older and therefore quieter than the age demographic of the nearby clubs.

Glenn Nicie, the owner of the club, said 30 people on Saturday night was considered a ‘busy’ night.

Compared to the alleged ‘1,500’ customers that are expected to turn up at one nightclub alone, Playhouse is said to account for less than one per cent of the customer traffic on the street – and therefore, the club says it cannot be held accountable for the late-night noise.

The licence was approved and the club can continue operating as it has been.

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