A YORK lap dancing club has had its licence renewed, with one city councillor saying the venue does the city a service by taking “problematic” racegoers off the streets.

Upstairs at 53 to 55 Micklegate had to apply for its sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence to be renewed, but on Monday saw the bid approved by city councillors despite some opposition from police.

The club’s existing licence allows it to open from 9pm until 3am Monday to Sunday, and 6pm to 4.30am on race days. Managers had applied for those rules to be renewed, but an objection from North Yorkshire Police said councillors should stick to a new policy the council introduced just last year, blocking sexual entertainment before 9pm.

However at a meeting on Monday, Upstairs manager Andrew Whitney said his venue had been running with those hours since 2012, without complaint.

Mr Whitney said: “I just hope that we can continue with business as usual as we have done since 2012.”

The longer hours also mean they can be open for customers who leave the racecourse at 5pm or 6pm but don’t want to go on to restaurant immediately, as well as those who go out to eat and then head to entertainment venues later in the evening.

No police representatives went to Monday’s meeting but written reports prepared for councillors said the force did not oppose the renewal of the licence, just the extended hours on race days.

However, councillors on the gambling and licensing committee said it would be unfair to change Upstairs’ licence when it has been running without complaint for several years.

Cllr Ann Reid said: “I understand where the police are coming from, except I think it would be grossly unfair to penalise a business that has been operating for five years with no objections, because overall our policy has changed.

“If it were a new application, that would be totally different.”

Another committee member, Cllr Dave Taylor, said police were right to draw the new policy to the committee’s attention, but agreed they should not change the rules Upstairs has been running under since 2012.

Cllr Taylor added: “Some racegoers are problematic when they come into the city after the races.

“This business takes them off our hands, puts them indoors, and keeps and eye on them for a time.

“It might actually be a very good thing for the city to have that ‘babysitting’ effect.”

The same meeting also saw the Adult Shop on Gillygate get its licence renewed. Councillors heard the shop's been running since 1997 with no complaints, and they agreed to renew the licence with the same hours.