THE planned opening of a strip club in a Fife town is to be the focus of a street protest on Monday.

The action by a new group, Women Together in Fife (WTF) has come as two rival petitions have been launched both for and against the Kirkcaldy that have both been backed by nearly 300 people.

Club owner Mario Caira said he was "dumbfounded" by the planned protest saying: "We are doing nothing illegal."

The group led by former councillor Marie Penman will gather outside the Town House, opposite the venue for the new strip club from midday - just days before Sin opens its doors.

The local council says that the new lap dancing club which will be housed above an existing nightclub does not need a licence, an existing licence covers it.

The Herald:

Common Weal Fife, which launched a petition against the club said there was "no place for neutrality on this issue".

Their petition which has 267 signatures on Sunday evening objecting to the club opening in November was directed at local MSP David Torrance and also calls for him to take up concerns.

Marie Penman, one of the protest organisers said: "The protest is about the fact that clubs like this still exist in modern Scotland - they just seem like they're from a bygone era, when women were seen purely as sexual objects. We're all about equality and fairness in society and I don't believe strip clubs offer this."

Ellen Fox of Common Weal Fife said that there were concerns over the "exploitation" of women as they would be working on a self-employed basis.

"Some people have said it will bring jobs and we are against the manner in which they are going to be employed," she said.

An alternative petition, started by Deborah Mellon of Rosyth signed by 268 said: "Sin is not forcing people to work there, or indeed attend their premises.

"The owners are well established in Kirkcaldy and known to the council licencing board. If it fails as a venture it should be due to lack of interest and not off the back of 'naysayers' who have never set foot in a strip club in their life."

The club being run by Mario Caira and his wife Niki have said it will be “tasteful” and “properly run” and is expected to employ around 20 people, including bar and security staff.

Mr Caira said of the protest: "I am dumbfounded. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The attitude in real terms to anyone that chooses to take up whatever kind of employment is wrong. It has to be up to the individual what they choose to do. There is nobody forcing anybody to do anything.

"It is rather disappointing in this day and age that people think they can dictate to others what they should and shouldn't do. We live in a democracy, a free country, where people have free choices to decide what they want to do, whether it be male or female, whether they be dancers, football fans, whatever.

"At the end of the day we are doing nothing illegal. These type of environments are all over the world and I cannot quite see why Kirkcaldy is so different to anywhere else. Was there any protests in London, Vegas? Yes, I fully understand people don't like things. It is marmite in that you'll love it or hate it. But people should have the freedom of choice."

Promotional material describes it as "Fife’s ONLY premier lap dancing and strip club" and adds that it is "the perfect place for a night out whether it be for a group a couple or an individual".

They say they cater for "all occasions - stag nights, birthday celebrations, private functions, corporate events, anniversaries or just a good night out".

Councillor Carol Lindsay, convener of Fife Licensing Board, said: “It is within the conditions of the current licence so there’s no need for them to apply for a new licence.

“There is a new law in the process of being introduced for this type of business which would mean that it would have to come before the board, but that could take some time and it could be next year before it is introduced.”