NEW legislation adopted by councillors will give residents more say on striptease and lapdancing clubs in Weymouth and Portland.

The new government plans, which were adopted by borough councillors at a management committee meeting, will see the council consulting the public about sexual entertainment venues and having greater powers over regulating them.

Up until now a sex entertainment license was not normally needed for sexual entertainment as the permission for adult entertainment was included on a premises licence issued under the 2003 Licensing Act.

Anyone wanting to set up a lapdancing club only had to prove it would not cause disruption to public order or safety and that children were protected from harm and if these criteria were met a council had to allow the club to go ahead.

Now, any establishment that provides any live display of nudity which is ‘reasonably assumed to be provided solely or principally for the purpose of sexually stimulating any member of the audience’ will need a Sex Establishment Licence.

Under the legislation, which will allow the council to set a figure for the maximum number of sexual entertainment venues in the borough, a policy will be developed which will then be followed by an eight-week public consultation period.

Residents and councillors will have greater powers to reject proposals for venues and all bars and shops already holding a licence will also have to reapply for a Sexual Entertainment Licence.

Speaking at the meeting Coun Ian James said: “I hope we would all support this.”