Sex shop faces fierce opposition

Plans to open a new sex shop in Telford have been met with a storm of opposition and a school fears it could affect its child protection measures.

Opponents of the bid have flooded licensing officials with about 50 letters of objection over plans to open a licensed sex shop at 1A Vineyeard Road, Wellington.

Applicant Nicola Dicken, who runs the Romeo and Juliet sex shop at Ketley Business Park with husband Roger, has applied for the licence to operate the shop. The couple are also seeking to renew the licence for their existing store.

Wellington Town Council has voiced its concerns over schoolchildren being in the vicinity of the proposed site, while other objectors have spoken out on moral grounds.

A letter sent to licensing bosses by Wrekin College says the school is "alarmed" at the proposal, adding that it could undermine expensive child protection measures they have implemented.

Another letter of objection reads: "This is a nice residential area. We do not want the tone of the neighbourhood lowered by such a business as a sex shop."

Mr Dicken said today: "The reason we have applied for the shop there is because it's in a mixed use area which is where sex shops must go under council rules.

"Many of the objections are on moral grounds, but there is also talk of schools and children being nearby.

"There are schools and children throughout society. If you look at Shrewsbury, there has been a sex shop across the river from the Wakeman School for years.

"Under-18s will not be allowed into our shop."

Members of Telford & Wrekin Council's licensing committee will decide on the application on July 21.