Sir.-I've listened to many views on lap dancing at Drake's Bar, and I understand how much upset this has caused people in Basingstoke.
My personal view is that the lap dancing does not add anything at all to our town - in fact, it actively detracts from making Basingstoke a place to be proud of.
Given the location of Drake's Bar, opposite a church and in a major thoroughfare, I really understand the offence that it has caused.
I believe these are grounds to reject the renewal of the licence and I hope the licensing committee will make the best judgement for our local community.
Liberal Democrats are often misrepresented that by virtue of having liberal principles "anything goes" - but being a Liberal Democrat means having the freedom to do what you want without causing harm or offence to others.
In this case the lap dancing has caused great offence and I fully understand why.
As a woman in my 20s, I find it a misnomer to have such activities described as entertainment.
I strongly believe that the lap dancing at Drake's Bar has to go.
-Jen Smith, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Basingstoke Liberal Democrats.
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