Town council says ‘no’ to hardcore pornography (From Swindon Advertiser)

Town council says ‘no’ to hardcore pornography

9:22am Friday 16th June 2006 in News

HARDCORE pornographic DVDs will not be going on sale in Swindon following a meeting of the town's licensing committee.

Members decided last night not to adopt a sex shop licensing regime that would allow premises to sell hardcore material, including R18 videos and DVDs.

The decision comes after months of wrangling over whether sex shops would swamp the town if the council adopted such a licensing regime.

Among opponents to the scheme is a coalition of churches that says sex shops lead to rape and child pornography.

In its submission to the council's licensing committee, Swindon Churches Together said such a move would attract an undesirable element and give the town a seedy reputation.

Peter Wannell, the owner of Exchange Bookshop an adult shop in Gorse Hill rejected the church criticism.

"The only effect my shop will have is maybe a baby boom," he said.

He said there had been no rise in sex crime in other towns that had adopted sex shop licensing, and added that the suggestion the licence would cost £10,000 was ridiculous.

Mr Wannell said he had lost 70 per cent of his custom to Oxford and Reading where hardcore videos could be sold.

The council surveyed 33 community, cultural and religious organisations and parish councils. Of those, 23 were opposed to the scheme, seven supported it and three took no position.

After the meeting, Coun Colin Lovell, (Con, Moredon), chairman of the licensing committee, said: "We are now looking into writing to our local MPs with a view of changing the law so that we can control where such shops can or cannot be located."

But committee member Coun Dave Wood (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said he refrained from voting on the issue.

He said: "The sex shop consultation was poor no individuals were consulted which is why I abstained from voting.

"However suggesting the issue be shelved for up to three years would be dreadful. Evidence was given that hardcore pornography was being sold illegally in areas children frequent, such as leisure centre car parks. Resolving this issue quickly could stop such illegal trade and protect the town's children."