Readers of the Burton Mail are being given the chance to vote on East Staffordshire’s great stripping debate.

Strip shows are currently banned in all of the borough’s pubs and clubs due to a standard condition on all public entertainment licences.

In the first review of the condition for seven years, East Staffordshire Council’s licensing committee will decide if the ban should be lifted.

To help them make their choice, they have pledged to carry out a wide-ranging consultation exercise, and council officer Ian Marriner has asked the Mail to help get the views of the public.

Last week the paper published an article asking readers for their views – and the plea has already had a huge response.

“So far, the vote is roughly two to one in favour of keeping the ban,” said Mail news editor, Andy Parker.

“Seventy-two per cent want to keep the by-law, while 28 per cent are in favour of withdrawing the condition.”

All submissions will be sent to the council’s licensing panel, which will decide soon whether or not the condition should remain.

Condition 25 states: “Any performance of a kind commonly known as a striptease act, involving the removal of garments while the performer (including a performer whose movements or a reflection of those movements can be seen by the audience through or on a translucent screen or similar device) is within the views of the audience, or any performance of a similar nature, shall not be permitted.”

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