A SNOOKER club owner who said he was “trying to survive in the current economic climate” will not be allowed to offer pole dancing as an attraction at his high street club.

Daniel Haselden, who owns Sidcup Snooker Club, has already been granted an entertainment licence for pole dancing sessions at the club, despite opposition from townspeople.

But he has failed to get planning permission from Bexley Council for the venture.

Mr Haselden also wanted to extend his opening hours until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The application attracted opposition from a number of Sidcup organisations and residents’ associations, as well as 130 individual objections.

Geoff Willing, speaking on behalf of the town partnership and St John’s Residents’ Association, said there had been a groundswell of public reaction against the proposal.

He accused the club of trying to use the fact it already had a licence for pole dancing as a means of getting planning permission.

Mr Willing said pole dancing was not being used as a way to attract more members to the snooker club but was a separate business venture.

He claimed if the venture proved profitable, the snooker club might convert itself into a nightclub instead.

Resident John Woodward claimed the venture would lead to rowdy behaviour and drunkenness on the street and the club would become “a drug pusher’s paradise”.

But Mr Haselden said his business was struggling and he was trying to give his members what they wanted.

He said the club had never had any problems with neighbours or the police.

And he added: “This will not be a a bawdy, beer swilling, drug pushing nightclub.

“It will not be rowdy or in-your-face. It will be small and low level and only for a small part of the week.”

Sidcup councillor June Slaughter said she was surprised at the lack of objections from the police and Bexley Community Safety Partnership to the proposal.

She said pole dancing was an inappropriate activity for a suburban high street.

Cllr Slaughter added: “We do not want to see this seedy enterprise in our midst.”