AN OXFORD church has vowed to continue its fight against a lap-dancing club.

St Ebbe’s Church, in the city centre, said this week it had lodged an official objection to a new licence application from neighbouring Thirst Lodge.

Thirst Lodge, in Pennyfarthing Place, has had to apply to Oxford City Council for a licence to operate as a sexual entertainment venue following a change in the law.

The city council has adopted new powers, which have been offered to licensing authorities, allowing them to treat lap-dancing clubs in a similar fashion to sex shops and adult cinemas.

Lap-dancing clubs had previously been able to operate using a general premises entertainment licence.

But the new powers allow councils that choose to adopt them to bar lap-dancing clubs from sites in residential areas, or near schools, play areas, shopping centres, tourist attractions and churches or other places of worship.

The Rev Vaughan Roberts, the rector of St Ebbe’s, said: “We are reluctant to object to the application by Thirst Lodge for a sexual entertainment venue licence, not least because it could make us look like spoilsports. However, we have decided that we must object.”

Earlier this year, the church was left with a £12,000 legal bill after losing an appeal against the decision to allow Thirst Lodge to open.

Deputy District Judge Gary Lucie threw out the church’s appeal after finding there was no public nuisance, the church’s activities rarely overlapped with Thirst Lodge’s opening hours and crime in the area had fallen since the club’s change of use.

The Rev Roberts said: “We believe that lap-dancing clubs demean women, undermine marriage and depersonalise God’s good gift of sex, so we would not be in favour of such a club anywhere.

“We feel that the location of the Lodge is particularly inappropriate as it is right next to the Westgate Centre and car park, which is a gateway into our historic city for many visitors.

“It is near a number of residential properties, as well as being just a few yards from St Ebbe’s Church, which holds not only church services but also a thriving toddler group and clubs for children most days of the week.”

The Rev Pete Wilkinson, associate minister at St Ebbe’s agreed, saying: “I don’t think the club is good for the city and I can scarcely think of a more inappropriate position for it to be.”

The deadline for objections to the new licence is today. The fate of Thirst Lodge will then be decided by the city council’s licensing committee. A date for this has not yet been set.

Last summer, city council leader Bob Price said he did not want lap-dancing clubs in Oxford. He called lap-dancing “dubious and exploitative”, adding: “It may not be unlawful, but it’s not something we want here.”

City councillor Colin Cook said last night: “Before this new law, we did not have power over the licensing of sexual entertainment venues, but now we have those extra powers.”

He declined to comment further on the application, but said the proximity to a church “may be a factor” in the decision.

Thirst Lodge declined to comment.