THE new owners of the unlicensed sex shop in Rowlands Road, Worthing, are making a fresh bid for a licence.

Worthing Borough Council's licensing committee is discussing the application for Pillow Talk, which used to be called Secret Desires, on Wednesday, July 1.

As an unlicensed sex shop Pillow Talk can sell underwear, adult toys, magazines and 18 certificate DVDs and videos.

It is also permitted to allow under-18s on the premises.

Campaigners have mounted letter-writing campaigns and launched a Facebook group against allowing the shop to sell restricted R-18 films.

These campaigners have fought off three previous licence bids and this time have sent 69 letters of objection.

In contrast there is support for the shop within the community.

A Facebook group set up in favour of the sex shop has more than four times the members of the "say no" group.

Owner Alan Butler started his business 29 years ago and has 14 licenced premise. His two eldest daughters work for him.

He described the business as taking "good money" suggesting a need for such a business.

Since it opened the licensing committee has not received a "relevant complaint" about the shop.

Licensing inspector Simon Jones' described the shop in his report as "clean, tidy and well presented inside", and did not cause him any current concern from a legal standpoint.

No objection to the plan has been raised by Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Worthing Borough Council's environmental health, planning services and community safety departments.

The committee meeting in Worthing Town Hall at 6pm is open to the public.

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