Having made representations to the council regarding the sex-shop being completely out of character for Sawtry, there are several policing matters that I believe also need considering in this debate.

WE are writing to voice concerns regarding the proposed application for a licence for a sex-shop in the former Little Chef at the entrance to Sawtry.

Having made representations to the council regarding the sex-shop being completely out of character for Sawtry, there are several policing matters that I believe also need considering in this debate.

First, children and youths are inquisitive, and the proximity of this site to the village will act as a magnet, particularly given the developers’ statement that their shops feature open window displays, and not the blacked out windows of old.

In the fight to control children’s gathering places, the village and its parents do not need this sort of business to act as one of them. Children would cross at least one busy village access road to get to it, increasing the risk of accident.

We believe the potential for increased crime is also greater, as customers of the hardcore porn that this chain sells might well drift into the village. This could cause tensions amongst locals in the streets and shops, and again possible targeting of the young and vulnerable for sex crimes.

Young people frequently loiter towards that end of the village and might be seen as easy prey for some aroused shop customers.

It is possible that at some point in the application process the location will be cited as having sufficient parking for cars stopping at the shop. This is not our concern, more that this location will soon become known to some international and British truckers as a favoured stop to pick up products.

We see this causing two problems. First, these trucks will be forced to park on the road outside, narrowing what is a fast and slightly-curved link road to and from the village. Depending whether they are north or southbound, these trucks will become an increased hazard on the old Great North Road, its islands and at least the Fen Lane area of Sawtry.

Secondly, the potential for illegal exporting of product to less ‘enlightened’ European and other countries would increase.

As the police face a time of unprecedented cuts, we taxpayers would not want to see other services sacrificed just because a new policing burden has been added to Huntingdonshire’s patch.

No other shop in Pulse & Cocktails’ chain is as boldly placed as this would be to a rural community. The oft-quoted Grantham shop is directly placed on the A1, and the residents of Stoke Rochford (pop. Fewer than 200) can access their village from any direction without seeing it.

We believe that having created its trading base on industrial estates and in seedy downtown locations, this company is now seeking to peddle an illusion of respectability. It has spotted a community village in Huntingdonshire that is currently unprotected by any local authority policy and is being opportunistic in exploiting that. That policy needs to, and can be, in place before this licence application is considered.

BRIAN and SUSAN RODGER

Deer Park Road

Sawtry