A LAP-DANCING club in Birkenhead has been refused retrospective planning permission and deemed "totally inappropriate" – six months after it is believed to have opened.

'Peachez' is thought to have started operating in October, but Wirral council's planners were only given the chance to consider retrospective permission for its existence on Thursday.

The committee's councillors unanimously refused the proposals, which means the building’s current status as a nightclub will remain.

Peachez' owners will now appeal the refusal decision.

At the meeting held at Wallasey Town Hall, councillors were told an objection had been received from Josephine Wood on behalf of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.

Her statement said it was "unbelievable" the plans were being considered for a development promoting "objectification and sexualisation of women for male titillation and ‘pleasure'".

It added: "Such a view of women belittles their value and encourages the perception that women are simply objects to be treated and handled as such by men."

The statement written by Ms Wood, who was awarded an MBE in 2010 for her work with victims of rape and sexual abuse, added: "In a borough which prides itself on the services provided for victims of sexual and domestic violence – there is simply no room for such a retrograde step as formally approving an establishment […] which encourages and endorses myths and falsehoods that we all believed had been left in the 1970s.

"Reports of sexual violence in Wirral grow month on month relentlessly. What message does it give out when the council that represents us, allows such an establishment to exist in our neighbourhood?"

The report to planning committee recommended permission to be granted for the venue on Conway Street to change from a nightclub to a lap dancing venue, despite objections from a number of officials including the local authority’s leader, Cllr Phil Davies.

Discussing the plans, councillors were in agreement that permission should be refused.

Claughton Labour councillor Steve Foulkes said it was the "wrong type of development in that particular location", adding: "I don't know much about these places but I've not seen one in Liverpool on the main thoroughfare."

Also against the plans was Conservative Cllr David Elderton, who said it was a "totally inappropriate development to impose on the area”.

In Birkenhead Green councillor Pat Cleary's view, it could have had a "materially detrimental" impact on further schemes in the area, while Oxton Liberal Democrat Stuart Kelly said messages had been received "saying people were uncomfortable" with the developments.

A refusal was moved on the grounds that it would "not promote a positive image of the area", before being voted for by all committee members in attendance.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Davies, whose Labour party had campaigned against the development, said: "I'm glad the planning committee voted in support of Labour's campaign with local residents to block the application for a strip club in Birkenhead.

"Labour's candidate for Birkenhead and Tranmere Paul Jobson has led a campaign which has received the backing of all residents.

"I was delighted to work with Paul and speak on behalf of the campaign at planning committee.

"Residents were deeply concerned that if the planning application was granted, it would send out the wrong message about the town and our ambitious regeneration plans.

"This is a fantastic victory for Paul Jobson’s resident-backed campaign and reflects the views of local people.

"This was our chance to do what local residents, businesses and shoppers in Birkenhead wanted – to shut this sordid business down.”

Peachez applied to be open from 9pm until 5am Thursday until Sunday, with the promise of creating 19 "full-time equivalent" jobs.

The refusal, which is subject to appeal, now means the club will be issued an enforcement notice requiring it to become a nightclub once more.

Recommending approval for Peachez, the report considered by councillors on Thursday said: "The premises are currently operating retrospectively as the use applied for.

"The previous use of the premises was as a bar and the change of use of one of these premises from one late-night town centre use to another is therefore not considered to be detrimental to the character of this particular part of Birkenhead Town Centre.

"There are no residential properties in close proximity and given the location of the premises, fronting onto the busy Conway Street within a town centre setting, it is considered to be a suitable location for such a late-night use."

Concluding, the report said although the use as a lap dancing club was "a departure" from the council’s unitary development plan, it was "compatible with other uses in this particular commercial part of the town centre which contains other late-night uses".

When contacted, a spokesman for Peachez refused to comment.