Tooley Street residents and businesses join lapdancing opposition

Members of the Tooley Street Tenants and Residents Association have voted overwhelmingly to support efforts to prevent the opening of the club.

Despite objections from the residents and a coalition of partners – which include the Mayor of London, Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge Hospital, the Unicorn Theatre and the Pool of London Partnership – Southwark Council granted a licence to the Rembrandt Club last December.

"There is strong evidence that the opening of a lap dancing club on Tooley Street will lead to attacks on women residents from our estates," says Karen O‘Toole, chair of the Tooley Street Tenants and Residents Association. "We will continue to campaign against the club until the decision to allow it is reversed."

"Southwark have forgotten their responsibility"

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, added: "Southwark have forgotten their responsibility to maintain the quality of life for those who live and work in the area. Residents do not want a lap dancing club here, nor do people working or visiting the area, which is unsurprising."

Chris Moxon, executive director of the Unicorn Theatre, said: "Unicorn opened its £13.8 million theatre for children in December last year and over 34,000 people have visited in its first four months. We selected this location partly because of its proximity to other family attractions and because the area has been promoted as a family friendly tourist destination.

"We are very alarmed that this reputation should be put at risk by licensing a lapdancing club. We believe that this site, which will be passed by hundreds of thousands of children every year, is simply not appropriate for such a club."

Terry Wilden of the Pool of London Partnership said: "Opening this lapdancing club in the main high street, could seriously harm the reputation of this area as a positive example of successful regeneration. The club could jeopardise both the future business investment and marketing of this part of the south bank as a family friendly place for tourism and leisure.'

The Mayor of London is supporting an appeal by the Dean of Southwark against Southwark Council's decision.