BUSINESS owners and residents have united in their anger over plans to open a sex shop in Hartlepool.

Members of Hartlepool Borough Council's licensing committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the application from Provincial Enterprises Ltd for a sex establishment licence needed to open the shop in York Road.

Although the shop would be located in a commercial block, with a restaurant to one side and an empty building to the other, residents have reacted angrily to the proposal.

In a letter to the committee, one resident said: "At a time when everyone is talking about regeneration and developing the town of Hartlepool, they then consider lowering the tone of the town."

Another objector said: "Opening the sex shop in York Road is not a good thing at all.

"Near us, in Raby Road, there was a sex shop for a while but, thankfully, it did not last long.

"We feel it would be a waste of time to establish another such business and nor would it attract to the amenities of York Road.

"We ask the committee to reject this proposal as such an establishment can never be an asset to our town."

Business owners, who have premises near the proposed shop, have also objected to the plans.

A local restaurant owner said: "York Road is a semi commercial residential road and is surrounded by businesses that are used by families, and if this shop opens as a sex shop it would affect everyone very badly."

A licence would be strictly limited to a maximum of one year, although it may be for a shorter period at the committee's discretion.

The applicant has been invited to the meeting.

Councillors are being asked to decide the application on information providedIf granted permission, the shop would be open from 10am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 6pm on a Sunday.

Provincial Enterprises Ltd declined to comment yesterday.