Some adult store owners here have been accused of tainting the message of Christmas by conservative citizens, due to the businesses’ recent applications to remain open on Sundays during the festive period.
The Private Shop has asked Wakefield Council for permission to stay open on Sunday Dec. 17, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Mike Croft of St. Catherine's Church, Doncaster Road, told the Wakefield Today that local residents would be against the application. “The intimacy of committed, loving relationships is at the heart of any healthy society. I do not believe that the extension of the opening hours at the sex shop will do anything to promote healthy society.
“It seems to me that at the heart of the Christmas message is the expression of God's love for each one of us in our lives and in our relationships.”
The appeals and regulatory committee will consider a report on Wednesday which claims that, under law, sex establishments should be treated like any other. The report added that “Conditions to exclude such establishments from trading could be argued to be discriminatory.
“Other recent changes have permitted Sunday race meetings and bookmakers to trade on Sundays.”
According to the report, similar applications from the Private Shop have been granted for the last two years.
