By Lynne Miles | 10 April 2008, 15:09

A quick update on the ‘Stop the Strip Pub’ campaign currently running in Stoke Newington, Hackney. It aims to block the application of local pub and former jazz bar ‘Satchmo’s’ to become a sex entertainment establishment, with pole dancing on the ground floor and lap dancing in the basement.

Since our last update on the campaign, Former F-Word blogger Kate Smurthwaite (aka Cruella) and the others involved have done an amazing job of rallying support for the cause. The licensing committee have received between 300 and 400 responses from members of the public.

The team have also received support from some high profile politicians:

Local MP Diane Abbot:

“I am very impressed with the sheer volume of objections to turning Satchmo’s into a sex establishment. The high level of complaints shows how much our community does not need such an establishment. I sincerely hope that lots of local residents make it to the license request hearing on May 6th to show these objections in the most visible way and that the Licensing Committee take this show of public objection into account.”

And Mayor of London Ken Livingstone:

“The number of letters of complaint sent to Hackney Council by concerned local residents and businesses shows the strength of opposition to this proposal that runs through this community. I continue to support this residential community in its attempts to maintain the quality of life for all the families and residents who live in Stoke Newington and for everyone who works in and visits the area. It is the right of all local people to attend the Council hearing and I would urge them to do so.”

The next step is the licensing hearing - which will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 6th May at Hackney Town Hall. I’ll be there and hope to meet some F-Word readers whilst I’m at it.