A CONTROVERSIAL new pole dancing club is set to open on the Barbican after Easter – but councillors have slapped 39 conditions on its licence.

Yesterday, at the end of a marathon three-hour meeting at the Council House, members of the authority's licensing committee announced they would back plans for the Pilgrims Sports Bar off Southside Street.

But that was only if the bar licensee, Richard Netherton, met 39 stringent operating conditions.

The conditions – put forward by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary – include admittance rules, details of access to the changing rooms and the installation of CCTV cameras in all areas where adult entertainment will take place.

One condition states: "performers may not a) climb onto the furniture provided for patrons; b) simulate sex acts; and c) remain in a state of nudity when they have completed their act."

At the end of the two-and-a-half hour behind-closed-doors debate, Councillor John Lock, chairman of the licensing committee, apologised for the delay and claimed it was "new territory" for the council.

Yesterday's debate marks the end of a long battle by the licensee to open the bar.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary appealed against Plymouth City Council's decision to grant a licence variation to Pilgrims Sports Bar last August.

Police argued such a venue would attract potential trouble makers to an area where bar expansion is controlled.

So the force put forward a revised list of conditions for the licensing committee to agree.

During yesterday's meeting solicitors acting for Mr Netherton and the police, argued over points.

Solicitor Peter Durbin, acting on behalf of Mr Netherton, argued over a condition to cover up 'private parts' at all times and deny dancers from wearing or removing transparent clothing.

"There are other establishments in this city which do not have these rules," he told the committee.

"All these places are working without any of these stringent conditions – and without incident which is highly significant."

The councillors agreed to remove the clause about revealing private parts.

David Campbell, counsel for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, also took issue with the entrance to the pole dancing bar, situated upstairs.

They suggested that either a separate entrance and exit should be built onto the street, or the premises close one-hour prior to adult entertainment commencing to enable the premises to be cleared.

Councillors opted in favour of the licensee installing a lobby outside the upstairs bar preventing people from entering unless allowed.

Speaking as representatives were invited back into the Council House following the deliberations, licensing committee chairman Councillor John Lock said: "We have thought long and hard and have come to this conclusion.

"It has not been easy, We have realised we are treading new ground.

"This is new territory for us. We hope that you can all go away happy."

But not everyone was happy at the outcome of the committee meeting.

Kathy Hole, former chairman of the Upper Barbican Residents Association, said: "I do not agree with it. The Barbican is supposed to be a family area."

Dee Harvey, the 69-year-old current chairwoman of the association, added: "You have to ask whether you want a nice family-orientated and welcoming area, or do you want it to become part of the night-time economy?

"I will not walk around the Barbican after dark now."

Mr Netherton refused to comment on the day's events.

But he did say the bar would be opening after Easter with a 'celebrity' guest conducting the duties.

POLE DANCE CLUB: The conditions

1. No persons other than the performers engaged in the approved

adult entertainment shall be in the licensed/designated area in a state

of undress.

2. The proprietor/director of the company is to

ensure that, prior to engagement, all performers for approved adult

entertainment shall provide documents of proof that they are over 18

years of age. Copies of such documents shall be retained on the

performers' file held at the premises.

3. No performer shall accept, or give telephone numbers from/to customers or exchange personal details with customers.

4.

No performer shall be allowed to work if, in the judgement of the

management, they appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of

illegal substances.

5. The licence holder shall provide a copy

of the House Rules to the licensing authority for approval. A clear

copy of these conditions and the house rules shall be given to all

performers and displayed at all times in or near the performers'

changing rooms. A clear copy of the house rules shall be displayed at

the reception and on each table and each bar area.

6. Performers

may not a). climb onto the furniture provided for patrons; b). simulate

sex acts; and c). remain in a state of nudity when they have completed

their act.

7. Performers will wear a G-string or similar piece

of clothing on the appropriate part of the body. Clothing shall be

neither transparent nor removed.

8. The two areas inside the

premises should be separated with the installation of a lobby. It

should be locked when adult entertainment is not taking place.

9. No entertainment involving nudity or entertainment involving any sexual content will be visible from outside the premises.

10.

Secure private changing facilities will be provided for the performers

(to include private toilet and shower facilities, the numbers and

design of facilities to be approved prior to installation).

11. No persons other than performers and authorised staff shall be permitted in the changing room/s.

12.

The approved adult entertainment shall only be performed by the

performers/entertainers and the audience shall not be permitted to

participate.

13. All entrances shall have clear notice stating: NO PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 21 WILL BE ADMITTED.

14.

There shall be no form of physical contact between customers and the

performers during approved adult entertainment other than when the

performers introduces him/herself at the start of the performance and

again at the conclusion of the performance and again at the conclusion

of the performance or when a tip is placed in their garter/armband.

15.

There shall be no physical contact between the customers and performers

during the performance. At all times the performer(s) will keep a

minimum distance of 3 feet away from the customers. (Licensing

committee added that a "recognisable means of measurement" should also

be used to reflect the distance of three feet).

16. The premises

shall be equipped with closed circuit television installed so as to

cover all areas where approved adult entertainment will take place and

will continually record during these performances. Recordings shall be

made available only to a police officer or duly authorised officer of

the Licensing authority on request.

17. Separate toilet

facilities to be installed upstairs for patrons, the numbers and design

of facilities to be approved prior to their installation.

18.

Performers shall be provided with changing room/s within the premises

which shall be located so as to be separate and apart from the public

facilities.

19. No person other than performers and authorised staff shall be permitted in the changing room/s.

20.

The electrical system, including portable appliances will be inspected

and tested annually by a competent person to ensure their safety.

21. Doors and windows will be kept shut during entertainment.

22.

Suitable signage at the exit to request the co-operation of patrons to

make as little noise as possible when leaving the premises.

23.

Patrons will be asked not to stand around talking in the street outside

the premises or any car park; and asked to leave the vicinity quickly

and quietly.

24. A member of staff will be positioned at exits

particularly at closing times. (Door staff should be instructed to

encourage patrons to move on as quietly as possible).

25. A

specific taxi operator has been nominated for staff and customer use.

The company's telephone number is advertised to customers. The

operator, and all drivers, are aware that they should arrive and depart

as quietly as possible, should not sound vehicle horns as a signal of

their arrival or leave engines idling unnecessarily. In addition, staff

will leave as quietly as possible, particularly at night and early in

the morning.

26. A senior member of staff (manager) will assess

the impact of any noisy activities on neighbouring premises at the

start of the activity/entertainment and periodically throughout the

activity/entertainment and take action to reduce noise levels if they

are found to be excessive/distinguishable above background levels at

the nearest residential property.

27. Management will control the sound levels of the music/entertainment.

28.

Between 23.00 hours and 00.00 hours: To prevent entertainment being

intrusive, noise emanating from the premises will not be clearly

distinguishable above other noise 1 metre from the façade of the

nearest residential property.

29. Between 00.00 hours and 02.00

hours: Noise emanating from the premises will not be distinguishable

above background levels 1 metre from the facade of the nearest

residential property.

30. The first-floor bar will operate only between the hours of 9pm until 2am from Thursday to Saturday of each week.

31.

No persons under the age of 21 years will be permitted into the

premises. An acceptable form of proof of age will be required from any

person appearing to be under 25 years prior to their admission onto the

premises.

32. There will be two licensed door staff on duty at

all times; one to remain on duty at the entrance and the other to

monitor the premises by patrol or monitoring of CCTV at regular

intervals. At least 2 door supervisors shall be on duty in the part of

the premises used for approved adult entertainment when such

entertainment is being performed.

33. Admission will be to

members only. Full names, current address and proof of identity will be

required and a Membership Book will be maintained, which will have to

be signed by members each time they attend the premises.

34.

Definition of all references to striptease, nudity, lap dancing pole

dancing and entertainment of a similar nature shall be referred to in

these conditions as approved adult entertainment

35. An entry fee of £5 per person will be charged.

36. The occupancy figure for the first floor to be 75 maximum.

37. Groups of up to 5 persons only will be permitted to enter the first-floor bar.

38.

There will be no external advertising or leafleting of the premises or

any adult entertainment. They will cause no publication and display of

obscene and indecent matter to be displayed or distributed in

advertising performances being held at the premises. In addition opaque

glass will be installed.

39. The premises to be linked into the pub watch scheme and appropriate radio link.