A strip club has WON its appeal to stay open after a government inspector found it to “positively contribute” to Birkenhead town centre.

Peachez Gentlemen’s Club was refused permission by Wirral council to continue operations earlier this year – despite having already been open for six months.

But following an appeal, a damning verdict by the UK Government’s planning inspectorate overruled the council, saying it had made “vague and generalised assertions” about the controversial venue.

An award of full costs has now been made against the council, and on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Conway Street club slammed the local authority for acting “unreasonably”.

He said: “Peachez welcomes the decisions of the impartial Government Inspector who has allowed our appeal and awarded our full costs for submitting the appeal.

“These costs will now have to be reimbursed by the council because it acted unreasonably in refusing planning permission against the professional advice of its officers.

“The Inspector found that Peachez makes a positive contribution to the vitality of Birkenhead town centre and would not interfere with Wirral Growth Company proposals to regenerate Birkenhead town centre.”

It comes after Wirral council’s planning committee went against its own officers’ advice back in April to unanimously refuse Peachez’ plans to turn the building from a night club into a lap dancing venue.

It was on the grounds that the proposed use did “not promote a positive image of the area”, with committee member Cllr David Elderton describing it as “totally inappropriate”.

The decision was made after widespread opposition, including from council leader and ward member Phil Davies, and Josephine Wood, on behalf of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.

At the time, campaigner Ms Wood said it was “unbelievable” the plans were being considered for a development promoting “objectification and sexualisation of women for male titillation and ‘pleasure’”.

Cllr Davies also said allowing the “sordid” club’s plans would have “sent out the wrong message about our town”.

But the appeal decision published by the planning inspectorate on Tuesday said there was “no evidence” of any requirement to “promote a positive image of the area” in the council’s development plan.

It said the authority had made “vague and generalised assertions” in refusing the application, by “failing to produce evidence to substantiate their reason… in the face of advice from its officers that the proposal was acceptable”.

Because the use as a lap dancing club is “compatible” with many of the nearby night time uses such as bars and pubs, it “would make a positive contribution to the vibrant night time economy”.

It added: “Accordingly I am satisfied that it would not undermine the vitality and viability of Birkenhead Town Centre.”

It also addressed the council’s concerns Peachez’ existence would go against plans to regenerate the town, which, according to the inspectorate, did not include any future proposals for homes to be built nearby.

The decision added: “I have been presented with a proposed masterplan for the Town Centre.

“Notwithstanding the lack of detail regarding the masterplan’s status, the appeal site is located some distance outside of the masterplan area, in particular the area designated for residential use as identified by the appellant.

“Consequently, there is no substantive evidence identifying where any conflict

between the proposed use and the masterplan would arise, or how the use would conflict with future residential proposals.”

It added that would mean the proposals do not have a “significantly harmful effect on the vitality of Birkenhead”.

The decision also now means Peachez will be awarded full costs after the “unnecessary expense” incurred by appealing.

The council was contacted for comment.