MELBOURNE - A proposed adult bookstore that would cater to a predominantly female clientele has brought its application to the state planning tribunal in a bid to overturn the city's recent rejection. According to a recently published report, the Melbourne City Council rejected Tickle n Tease's application on Tuesday, despite its adherence to the city's strict zoning guidelines.
Club X, which owns 26 adult stores across the country, submitted the application. Peter Reynard of Club X told The Age that the Tickle n Tease proposal was rejected strictly on moral grounds.
"It's a typically ill-informed judgment from people who think this store will attract all sorts of 'undesirables,'" said Reynard. "But that's just not true — our stores attract people like you and me."
According to the story, an initial council report recommended that Tickle n Tease — which was going to be designed to make female customers feel more comfortable — be given the go-ahead. But the council then reversed its decision, fearing the effects of the store on its historic Chinatown neighborhood.
Two city council members voted to approve the shop, saying that all of Tickle n Tease's paperwork was in order. "Our job is to consider the planning scheme when we make decisions," council member Frasor Brindley, who voted to approve the business, told The Age. "This seems to have been decided on political grounds."
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