A FORMER nightspot in Banbury is to become Oxfordshire's first full-time strip club.

Cherwell District Council has given Brackley man Ashley Brown planning permission to convert the old Churchill's premises, above shops in Broad Street, into "a gentleman's club" which will feature striptease, pole dancing, and rooms where strippers can dance naked for clients.

Eric Heath, chairman of the council's licensing committee, said there had been no objections to the application after the plans had been publicly displayed.

He said: "For that reason, council officers passed the scheme without putting it to the committee. They saw no grounds to refuse the application.

"We shall soon see if local people want the club and, if there are any problems, it will be referred back to the licensing committee."

Council spokesman Tony Ecclestone said: "It went through as standard procedure. Some assurances over soundproofing were agreed."

Banbury Town Council leader John Colegrave said: "I have no problem with it. Similar clubs are in towns everywhere, so why shouldn't Banbury have one? If there is a demand for that type of entertainment it will be a success but, if few people use it, no doubt it will close down. Time will tell."

Strict conditions will apply.

Cherwell Council has ordered that photographs of striptease, lap dancing, pole-dancing, or tableside dancing must not be displayed on or near the premises, and that no-one under 18 should be admitted to the club while striptease, lap dancing, pole-dancing, or tableside dancing are taking place.

The council also wants CCTV to monitor all areas where dancing takes place. Licensing hours for the club until 1am, Sundays to Wednesdays, and to 2am Thursdays to Saturdays.

Mr Brown, who also runs Q Bar in Brackley, said: "The club will be called Cassiopeia, and it should be open by the end of September.

"This sort of thing may have had a sleazy, dark-ages reputation, but the industry has moved forward under strict guidelines and these days it is far removed from the image it had some years ago.

"Attitudes towards clubs like this have changed, and the fact that no objections were received speaks volumes."