A BAR wanting to offer lap dancing is appealing against a council decision which stopped it from opening.

News Shopper has reported how Greenwich Council issued Caffrey's Sports Bar with a stop notice less than an hour before it was due to open its doors last November.

According to the temporary stop notice, managing director Ivor Andrews had not applied for permission to change the use of his premises in Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, to a lap dancing venue.

He has now launched an appeal against the decision and a public inquiry is due to be held in October.

The move is likely to spark anger among residents who held a protest against the club offering lap dancing.

Ray Smith from the Greenwich Society said: "I hope it is turned down. It's highly inappropriate in that place. It's a residential street and it's near a bus stop used by schoolchildren."

Mr Andrews was originally granted a change of use in his premises licence in July last year to provide lap dancing.

But the council says in order for the performances to take place, he needs to apply for permission to change the building use to provide entertainment.

The council said Mr Andrews made alterations to the bar's basement, including moving toilets and an entrance, which contravened his existing planning permission.

However, Mr Andrews told News Shopper he had not broken any planning regulations.

He says the bar had been refurbished but no building changes had been made.

Mr Andrews, managing director of Shop Search UK, which is making the appeal, said: "We maintain we already have the correct planning permission.

"Why do we need to apply again?"

A council spokesman said: "As reported in News Shopper last November, the council served a notice on the manager of Caffreys Sports Bar, as planning permission had not been sought for the change of use of the building.

"The public inquiry between October 16 and October 18 is to consider the applicant's appeal against this notice."

The council has sent out more than 1,500 letters informing residents about their right to attend the public inquiry.