A pole dance school on the ground floor of a home has been evicted from a tiny Norfolk village after locals complained about seeing women in 'thongs and bras' through the windows.
High Voltage Pole, run by teacher Danica Painter, had been offering classes to students from a property known as 'the Old Jam Factory in Elm, near Wisbech, since 2020.
The converted warehouse was turned into a dance studio in the quiet village without permission but after West Norfolk Council was made aware of the site, it issued an enforcement notice to shut it down.
The pole dancing studio was installed on the ground floor of the Old Jam Factory in Elm, which was converted into a residential property (Image: Facebook/High Voltage Pole)
It followed a number of locals complaining that their lives had been disrupted by the venue.
One person said her four-year-old child could see from their bedroom window "girls in thongs and bras" pole dancing, and that it was "inappropriate" and "not the place" for the studio.
Others complained that parking had become "horrific" with drivers leaving their cars in the middle of the single-track road.
Ms Painter appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the enforcement action - the government department that presides over planning disputes.
One objector submitted photos to West Norfolk Council to highlight problems with people parking outside the dance studio in Chapel Lane, Elm (Image: West Norfolk Council)
In a letter to the official, the dancer defended her business, arguing that none of the objectors had ever complained to her directly and that she had taken measures to prevent disturbing neighbours.
"In a world where it is easier to cancel and say no to things, I implore you to look within your heart and see that I am doing all I can to be compliant and appease concerns raised," she said.
She also hit back at the objectors, claiming several of them do not live at their addresses permanently, while also refuting that her classes were noisy.
The location of the home, where High Voltage Pole was being run as a dance studio in Chapel Lane, Elm (Image: Google)
Despite her attempts to persuade the official, the Inspector upheld the enforcement.
The official said: "Whilst I have found that the development will not have a harmful effect on the living conditions of neighbouring residents, I have found it will result in harm to highway and pedestrian safety."
Following the decision, Ms Painter is now in the process of moving High Voltage Pole to a new studio in Wisbech.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel