THE fight over plans for a lap dancing club in the centre of a North-East city is to resume with the lodging of two appeals.

Vimac Leisure, the firm behind The Loft in North Road, Durham City, is appealing against some of the conditions imposed by Durham City Council's licensing panel when it granted a premises licence last month.

But a group of residents opposed to the club are appealing against the decision to grant the licence.

City magistrates will hold a preliminary hearing on both appeals on Monday, September 24.

The firm's licence application attracted 50 objections from, among others, the police, who said they feared it could lead to an increase in crime and disorder in North Road, where problems are on the decrease.

The approval limited lap dancing to only Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

A raft of conditions included no advertising at the premises, a ban on circulating promotional material and no irresponsible drinks promotions.

Sergeant Tim Robson, Durham Police's licensing officer, said Vimac Leisure was hoping to overturn the conditions on advertising and three nights of lap dancing.

He said the magistrates could dismiss the appeals, hold a hearing, or ask the council to consider the application again.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the appeals had been lodged but could not comment further.

Objectors to the licence application, who include residents and representatives of Durham University, say that if the club opens, women will fear being molested when walking in the area and that the council's licensing policy aims to discourage having attractions such as lap dancing clubs near churches, schools and community centres.

Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said: "I am backing the residents.

"I don't think a lap dancing club is right in this area and I think it contravenes the local licensing policy, never mind the Government's licensing objectives.

"It is not a moral issue. These things are suitable in some places, but not here.

"People feel that Durham is a small town and it is not appropriate to have a strip club at the gateway to a small town.''

No one was available for comment at the South Tyneside offices of Vimac Leisure or from resident objectors.