Halifax lapdance club La Salsa bids for new licence

The application, for a licence for the La Salsa club at Silver Street, Halifax, will be considered by Calderdale Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Sub-committee when it meets in virtual form via the council’s YouTube channel on Monday, June 8 (from 6pm).

The club’s current licence ran out on December 19 last year and this is the first meeting of the committee scheduled since.

Councillors have been told the premises will be permitted to operate until they make a decision on the renewal application.

Police and ward councillors have not objected to the application – but the council has received a number of objections to the renewal which include suitability of its position opposite a women’s refuge and proximity to a church.

When the licence renewal was previously applied for in 2018-19, members first granted the licence, were asked to reconsider it by full council, then refused to renew it at a second meeting.

This was on the grounds the nature of the area around the club had changed and that applicant Mr Reza Shahsavar was not a proper person to hold a licence – both reasons challenged by his legal representatives.

But following an appeal by La Salsa’s owners to Magistrates Court and a letter of claim to the council following the last refusal, it was agreed councillors should consider the matter again and on that occasion the renewal was approved.

On Monday, councillors can grant the licence, grant the licence with additional conditions or refuse the licence, an application for the renewal of which has to be made annually.