Nighttime economy adviser says her opinion on strip clubs is ‘irrelevant’

Ahead of a public consultation on the future of Bristol’s strip clubs, the city’s nighttime economy adviser has said that her opinions on the matter are “irrelevant”, despite sharing her support for strippers on social media ahead of her appointment to the new position.

Carly Heath revealed that the consultation on the city council’s proposed nil-cap on sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) will be happening soon but she was unwilling to reveal what she now thinks about the issue.

In a series of deleted tweets from March (the same month in which she was appointed as nighttime economy adviser), Heath said: “Sex work IS work. Taking a moralistic stance is beyond the realm of licensing… This decision needs to be backed up by data, not observational anecdotes and SWERFy politicking.”

On the same day, she also tweeted: “Regulation of these spaces without evidence that these venues are causing Actual Harm to the women that work there is overstepping the boundaries of local councils. They should be working with these venues, blanket bans rarely work and push the issue underground.”

In an interview in June with Bristol24/7, Heath, whose salary is £50,000 pro-rata, requested that the subject of SEVs was not discussed. (Bristol24/7 has since instigated a policy of cancelling interviews if subjects are declared off-limits.)

But talking to Neil Maggs in the Bristol Cable’s latest Bristol Unpacked podcast, the ‘night czar’ was pushed on her personal views and whether they had changed now that she works closely with the mayor’s office. Bristol mayor Marvin Rees supports a ban on SEVs.

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Read more: Open letter demands council ‘honours workers’ rights’ by not banning strip clubs

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Despite Maggs’ questions, Heath refused to be drawn on her own opinions on the future of Bristol’s strip clubs, but later in the podcast was happy to share her opinions about drug testing.

“My job is to represent the people who work at night and the businesses who operate at that time, and make sure that we have sensible policies that have thought about the needs of the night.”

On SEVs, she said: “There is a public consultation that will be starting soon and ultimately it will be up for the public to input into that conversation to tell the licensing committee what they feel about the presence of SEVs in Bristol city centre…

“All I can say is that the council are giving people an opportunity to put their opinions in on the existence of these venues.”

But what is her opinion?

“To be honest, I don’t think my personal view on this is either interesting or relevant.”

What about her previous support for sex workers?

“So anything that I’ve said was before I started my job as a council employee.”

Has her opinion changed or stayed the same?

“My opinion on the matter is irrelevant.”

Central Chambers is one of Bristol’s two strip clubs – photo: Central Chambers

Bristol’s two strip clubs, Central Chambers on St Stephen’s Street and Urban Tiger on Broad Quay, employ dozens of people.

Speaking to the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast, dancer Amelie said if the two clubs were to be forced to close, dancers would lose not only their income but also a safe workspace.

Amelie said: “Regardless of what people’s opinions are on sex work, we want to remind people that this is first and foremost a workers rights issue.

“As sex workers and dancers, we are workers and as workers, we deserve to be safe at work. All the nil-cap will do is push women into more dangerous positions, or more precarious employment or unemployment.”

Main photo: Bristol City Council

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