While this announcement may not seem like a victory for the local community – it actually is! 

Since 2000 a Licensed Sex Shop has operated within the premises at 9 Caledonian Road, first as the King’s Cross Prowler, and more currently as Soho Original Books.  Of course, hardly anyone knew this because of the Conditions that the Council placed on the shop’s original License – there could be nothing in the window that promoted the adult materials that were available inside.  This simple but powerful Condition made this shopfront part of the normal fabric of the neighbourhood and effectively eliminated the negative connotations that would have existed if it was not in place.  In fact, some folks even commented that the shop front at 9 Caledonian Road was one of the most attractive on the block.

However, all this might have changed for the worst because at the latest license renewal, the owner of the shop sought to have these critical Conditions removed from his License so that he could hang a large red neon sign in the window promoting the true nature of what was on offer inside.

Fortunately members of the community spotted this and alerted our Councillor Paul Convery who with a number of other local residents wrote in to object and eventually succeeded in preventing any changes to the License.  A face-to-face meeting was held with the Applicant and as a result of the amount of local objection, the shop owner decided that it was in his best long-term interest to remove his request to eliminate the Conditions of the license and to simply seek another renewal as he had done in the past.  More importantly though, he realized that given the changes taking place in the neighbourhood, his location might be better suited to a restaurant plan that he is now considering.

While I believe this is a victory for the neighbourhood, I know that there are members of the community who feel that all sex shops should simply be outlawed.  While I may agree in principal, I don’t feel that this is a practical approach as they are not illegal.  Wheras now that King’s Cross has one licensed sex shop I believe we can make a legitmate case to reject any others.

Also as a result of local residents lobbying on this subject we have received a firm commitment from Trading Standards to make a concerted effort to put as much legal pressure as possible on the two remaining unlicensed shops in the area.  Hopefully it will only be a matter of time before they close down as others in the area have already done.

Lastly as a further a result of the actions of Councillor Convery and some of the other 30 local residents who made written representations on this matter, the Council is now modifying the way local people are notified about these license applications and renewals in the future to ensure more local folks have a better chance on commenting on these matters.

Thanks to all who got involved and carried the day!