Residents and businesses in Swindon, Wiltshire, can now share their thoughts on updated rules for strip clubs and sex shops. Swindon Borough Council has started a public consultation that runs from 25 March 2026 until 20 June 2026.
This review will replace a policy from 2016 and decide where businesses like lap dancing clubs and sex cinemas can be located. The new document also explains the conditions these venues must follow to keep their licences and how local people can object to new applications.
Council licensing officer Matthew Henley stated that there is currently only one licensed venue of this type in the town, which is the Dream Lounge on Victoria Road. The council says it does not make moral judgements on these businesses, as they are considered a legal part of the local economy.
Current rules for such venues include having staff supervisors nearby during dances and making sure customers stay in their seats. It currently costs £4,150 to apply for a new sexual entertainment licence, while a new sex shop licence costs £1,750.
People living in the area can read the draft plan and fill out an online survey on the council website. All feedback must be sent by 20 June 2026 before the council moves forward with any final decisions.
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