Controversial Dudley fetish club plans thrown out AGAIN
Plans for a controversial fetish club in Dudley have been thrown out for the second time.
Councillors insisted it was 'not a moral debate' but said they felt the Dock Lane location was not right for the Valhalla Club.
The club, which would serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, was refused permission in December last year but owners had made a renewed bid for a change of use.
Planning officers had recommended the proposals be approved, but Dudley Council's development control committee refused the application at a meeting on Thursday.
Councillors were tied at four votes against and four votes for the application, with committee chairman Councillor Qadar Zada having the casting vote against the club.
Councillor Zada said he supported all groups having representation inside Dudley but felt the location was not right for the club, and said he did not believe there was sufficient parking at the site.
He said: "This is not a moral debate and I believe even if the club was not located on Dock Lane it would still thrive.
"I cannot support the application with the impact it would have on the residents living on Dock Lane.
"In my heart I am a supporter of this application, but in my head I can not see how a club with such limited parking could operate."
Previously Councillor Zada had described the club as 'the wrong activity in the wrong place'.
During the meeting, councillors were told 11 new objections had been received against the proposal.
A previous petition against the building was thrown out as the signatures on it were from outside the borough.
The owners of the club, which has already been granted a separate licence to sell alcohol, said no sexual acts would take place on the site.
Councillor David Vickers expressed support for the club saying he could not see why there was an issue.
"It is a redundant building which needs picking up," he said. "I think this building is a perfect example of something that could be useful to the area, and the community."
Councillor John Martin said as a member of the LGBT community he did not feel the club was suitable.
"Who is using the club and what they are using it for is none of my concern," he said. "I do not believe it is appropriate to have a club in the location it is in.
"I have no issue with the socialising aspect, but as a member of the LGBT community myself I do not think we should be doing our socialising behind closed doors."
