Pillow Talk, in Rowlands Road, was granted a 12-month licence by councillors at a meeting last night (Wednesday, July 1).

The licence was granted subject to a number of conditions, including a requirement to install CCTV cameras and a ban on any kind of window display. Instead, the shop will be fronted by covered glass.

Sixty nine letters of objection were received to the application, the fifth such bid since 2005.

Previous owner Kathy Sutton, who ran the shop as Secret Desires, saw three applications turned down by the council's licensing control committee.

She then submitted a fourth bid which was withdrawn when she sold the shop to Pillow Talk in January, run by 62-year-old father-of-four Alan Butler, whose two eldest daughters work for the company.

Mr Butler said he was "very pleased" with the council's decision, which came after he personally addressed the committee.

"I spoke myself," said Mr Butler. "I say it from the heart. With 29 years experience, I don't need a lawyer to put over how I feel. It's the only way I know.

"This business has been my life. No-one can speak about it better than I can.

"I think the council made the right decision. It's the way most councils have gone around the country. It gives them control over the shop."

He said he had no bad feelings towards the objectors to the bid, who spoke to him during the committee meeting's interval.

He said: "Everybody has a choice, don't they? Everyone should be allowed to voice their opinion.

"I've no anger towards them. If that's how they feel, they should be respected for that.

Mr Butler said the shop, which is currently empty, would be refitted and refurbished in line with the committee's requirements.

A second door will be installed, preventing any of the shop's interior being visible from the street even when the outer door is open, and the windows will be covered.

"It will be refitted," said Mr Butler.

"We will be starting as soon as we can. I would think we will be open within two weeks, and we will be opening with some special offers."

Locals offered mixed views of the council's decision.

One shopkeeper, who asked to remain anonymous, said she hadn't known of any problems from the shop.

She said: "They've kept themselves to themselves.

"It's residents that have voiced their concerns, which you can understand. They will be worried. But that's the case with anything."

But Nick Biles, 38, who lives over the road from the shop with his partner and their children, including a new-born baby, said it would increase the area's problems.

He said: "What with the amount of drug dealers around anyway, the scum is already in the area so it will just mean more scum.

"I'm not overly happy. I've just had another addition to the family so I want to protect them. I'm not saying everyone who goes there is, but there will be more scum about."

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