A Macclesfield councillor has objected to the licence renewal for a sex shop which has operated in Crewe for 21 years with no complaints.

Cheshire East's licensing sub-committee was told by the council's licensing team leader, Kim Evans, that the licence for Temptations Adult Shop on Nantwich Road was renewed annually and there had never been an objection from anyone previously.

Tuesday's (October 28) committee meeting had been called because of an objection to the licence renewal from Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake (Macclesfield, Lab).

Ms Evans told the committee: "In respect of the premises, there have been no complaints received, either from members of the public or from responsible authorities, and the premises has not been discussed in any of our police licensing liaison meetings where problem premises are discussed."

Shop owner Alan Brook told the committee: "I've operated responsibly as the licence holder for the last 21 years in the community at the same address.

"Everything's been great, no trouble whatsoever."

Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake, Macclesfield Hurdsfield (Credit: CEC)

Cllr Bennett-Wake said she was objecting to the renewal of the licence because she didn't think it was appropriate to the character of the area as the shop was on a high street and a walking route to school.

"It's clearly family-orientated, with playgrounds, mother and baby shop in close vicinity, and therefore a sex shop, and the application to sell pornographic films and magazines is not in keeping with the character of the area," said Cllr Bennett-Wake.

She told the meeting: "The last government, in 2021, examined the relationship between pornography use and harmful sexual attitudes and behaviours, with a particular focus on academic research on legal pornography.

"They found that men using porn expected women to play out violent and degrading acts they had viewed.

"There was an increased likelihood of committing both verbal and physical acts of aggression towards women with significant strong correlation with the use of violent pornography."

The councillor said data from the police showed Crewe South had the highest rate of sexual offences in Cheshire East.

She added: "I just think it's not appropriate to sell porn on the high street where there's children passing by."

Mr Brook said the data Cllr Bennett-Wake was referring to didn't give a breakdown of what had happened or who had committed the crimes.

"And really, I object to your suggestion that any of my 200 customers a week, that's 10,000 customers a year, are in any way involved with crimes that are happening in Crewe South," said Mr Brook.

"I don't see where the relevance comes into it. I find it almost slanderous."

He added about 30 per cent of his customers were women.

Mr Brook said no violent DVDs were sold in the shop and all DVDs sold had the proper certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.

The meeting was adjourned and committee chair Arthur Moran said a decision on the licence renewal will be published within 10 working days.