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CHRISTINA’S Palace in Water Street, Radcliffe, was opened without planning permission
Health studio faces closure
Kathryn Ryan31/ 1/2008
A MALE health studio, which police and residents fear could be a brothel, is to be served with a closure notice after opening despite being refused planning permission.
Council bosses are set to serve an enforcement notice next week to shut down Christina’s Palace in Water Street, Radcliffe.
Planning permission for the costume hire shop to be turned into a health studio was refused in October on the basis that it would lead to the loss of a shop and shop frontage.
Last week council officials visited the premises following complaints that it had opened without permission and after viewing their website which ‘advertises the site as a five star massage parlour with sexual use suggested but not stated’.
The studio was controversial even before it opened when Inspector Bryn Williams said it was ‘more than likely to operate as a brothel’.
Speaking at the Radcliffe Local Area Partnership meeting last week, Insp Williams said: "I was made aware that the premises had opened and two of my colleagues have visited it.
"I’ve met with the management and I’ve discussed issues.
"I think this is a breach of planning legislation and it’s the planning department who will deal with and it will hopefully be closed in the near future.
"We will then look at the legal issues."
Insp Williams said the police had evidence from the studio’s website giving descriptions of the girls and they would look into whether or not they had been trafficked into the country.
Descriptions include terms such as: ‘stunning cute sexy blonde’ and ‘tall leggy brunette goddess’.
Ward councillor and LAP chairperson Tony Cummings said: "It was turned down at planning for very good reasons - not taking into account the moral issue of it.
"A lot of work had been going on within the building but I assumed this was in preparation for an appeal.
"We take it very seriously."
The studio has 58 days to cease operating as a health studio.
If they appeal the case would go to planning inspectorate and could take around seven months to resolve, during which time the notice is suspended and the premises can still be used as a health studio
If they turn down the appeal and Christina’s Palace continue to stay open the case could go to magistrates court which would take around six months and again the unauthorised use would be able to continue.
A council spokesperson said: "Although the legal process of forcing a closure can take some time, the proprietor could show their respect for the local residents’ feelings and the democratic process of the town hall, by ceasing to trade now."
Christina’s Palace were unavailable for comment, but are understood to be in the process of resubmitting a new planning application under the heading of a ‘health studio’ not a ‘male health studio’.
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1/02/2008 at 16:59