A lap dancing club will open in the heart of Canterbury next month following a “knife-edge” decision by the council’s licensing committee.

The three-councillor panel today decided to grant owners of The Bing permission to open in the former Farmhouse building in Dover Street.

Panel chairman Bill Oakey said: “There were exceedingly good reasons to grant and refuse, but on balance we’ve decided we’re going to grant with stringent conditions.

“It was a knife-edge decision.

“We would rather have a controlled, well-run venue like The Bing, than it be left to some other form of night entertainment.

“I just hope it lives up to our expectations.”

Bing owner Ralph Noel was granted a sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence for a year and will run the club with his son Alistair.

He hopes to open by the end of August.

Speaking after the hearing, he said: “I’m just glad it’s over. We want the venue to live up to expectations and hope we can achieve this.”

There had been heated exchanges in the Guildhall as objectors raised fears about the planned club, including moral and religious points which are unlawful under SEV licensing.

Leo Charalambides was the leading sex industry barrister representing the Noels.

He described the club’s proposed offerings as akin to “a Benny Hill on stage”.

Mr Charalambides told the committee: “In Canterbury there is no other type of entertainment of this nature.

“Canterbury is crying out for something which caters for an older clientele.

“Indeed, it may have been somewhere Chaucer Pilgrims might have gone for some respite from their devotions or where Christopher Marlowe might have found himself.

“This is a bit of fun. These are enlightened times. How people feel about what goes on inside is a matter of their own feelings and not for the licensing committee.

“There are real reasons to evaluate this application rather than naked nimbyism.

“I would invite you also to be aware of naked paternalism. Does the cinema round the corner only show Disney films or does it show films containing sex scenes, violence and horror?”

Dancers at the club will be paid per dance. They will also receive tips placed into their hands or a garter.

They will not use props or sex toys, described to the committee as “auto-erotic self-stimulating devices.”

Entry will be £10 before 10.30pm and £20 after, with beers costing £7 each.

Objectors to the club included Canterbury Christ Church Univeristy’s Students Union and the Oaten Hill and District Society.

The society’s chairman Fred Whitemore said: “There is unanimous opposition to this from our committee.

“An SEV is not appropriate because its near a educational establishment, shopping complexes, residential areas and places of worship.”

Vice-chairman Gillian Northcott Liles raised the issue of extra noise: “I believe customers leaving more likely to make noise than someone from a nightclub.

“They are going to be more excitable because they have just seen sexual entertainment and there is a likelihood of increased sexual harassment.”

What do you think about the decision? Write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.