Sex businesses sent to out of town locations

Central Beds Council’s licensing committee will discuss the council’s draft licensing policy for sex establishments on Tuesday.

The policy, which follows a pubic consultation, will stop sex establishments being licensed near most community buildings.

There is currently one sex shop in the area, on the A1 near Tempsford. Its license is due for renewal in 2014.

The policy states: “The council does not take a moral stand in adopting this policy and recognises that Parliament has made it lawful to operate a sex establishment, and that such businesses are a legitimate part of the retail and leisure industries.”

Sex establishments will not be allowed within 500m of schools, colleges and nurseries for under 18s, community buildings, places of religious worship, residential areas or other places frequented by children, families or vulnerable adults.

The plan states: “Given the characteristics of Central Bedfordshire this will result in a nil policy in many areas.

“Those areas where it is likely a licence will be granted are industrial areas or adjacent to main transit routes through the area.”