A NEW bid to re-open a Huddersfield lap dancing club has ended in failure.
Councillors yesterday rejected an application for a licence to run the La Salsa club in Beast Market.
They said they were not happy about guarantees over the ability of the club to prevent crime, disorder and public nuisance.
The move was welcomed by West Yorkshire Police, who had opposed the licence application, and by a handful of objectors.
They had all spoken out against the new club at a behind-closed-doors meeting of Kirklees Council’s licensing panel.
La Salsa was shut down in February after a major police operation.
Undercover officers had visited the club and staged an early-hours raid
The club’s owner Reza Shasavar, 35, was arrested on suspicion of people trafficking and child welfare offences. He currently remains on bail.
Undercover special constables were allegedly offered sexual favours by dancers as part of the operation at the Beast Market club.
They had been sent to investigate allegations some of the girls working there were performing naked and breaking the rules that ban physical contact..
Yesterday’s application was made on behalf of Joanne Julien, to re-open La Salsa as a lap dancing club.
She wanted to open the club for live music, performance of dance, entertainment facilities for dancing and late night refreshment from 7.30pm until 4am everyday.
Councillors visited the closed club yesterday morning to inspect the premises before meeting for more than three hours and arriving at their decision.
Clr Christine Iredale, who chairs the panel, said: “The panel decided to refuse the application as we were concerned at the powers to prevent crime and disorder and to stop public nuisance.”
Sgt John McFadzean, of West Yorkshire Police, said police had objected to the licence application and agreed with the panel’s concerns.
Solicitors for the applicant can appeal against the licensing panel’s decision.
