Danielle Hewson Politics Show Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

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Recreational sex based in Nottinghamshire village?

North Muskham was singled out by a Lincoln entrepreneur as an ideal spot for a private members club targeting 'swingers'.

A slice of middle England - the picture postcard views of the village of North Muskham near Newark conjure up images of cucumber sandwiches, Pimms and croquet on the lawn - until now.

The anonymous bidder put in an application to take over an empty pub seconds from the A1 with ample parking.

It is a proposal which left Chairman of the Parish Council Ian Harrison reeling:

Parish Councillor Ian Harrison is left reeling

"It was similar to somebody hitting you in the face with a kipper - it is a new one to us.

"I have lived in the village 20 odd years we have faced many challenges as a community - gravel extraction to congestion from the A1 but nothing ever like this."

Residents action

Village residents sprang into action, particularly concerned parents like mother-of-two Emma Foster. Her garden is a couple of paces from the site.

Emma Foster: It is going to be an unsafe village

"You know if you get strange people like that and the children are coming out of school.

"You are going to just feel like you just do not want them to go out.

"It is going to be an unsafe village and it is so worrying really."

La Chambre: Sheffield swingers club

What is a swingers club?

So what is a swingers club and should potential residents be concerned? To find out the Politics Show went to La Chambre in Sheffield.

It is a swingers club that has been open for the last 8 years. First impressions when you walk through the front door are that it looks rather like a local pub.

Of course not all the rooms are as innocuous as that. Sex, sometimes with multiple partners, does take place there.

Barrie Calvert: Swingers are just normal people

The club's owner Barrie Calvert says it all happens behind closed door, between consenting adults and is perfectly legal.

"Swingers are just normal people like you and me and everyone else - they don't have two little horns on their heads or anything like that they are just nice people out for a good time.

"We call it recreational sex which is a nice term to use. People are not dragged off the street screaming and shouting."

Lease application rejected

But Barrie felt that the proposed location for the North Muskham club was a bad idea. Something the pubs owners Punch Taverns obviously agreed with.

A couple of days after being contacted by the Politics Show they issued a statement announcing that had decided to reject the lease application because of the "long term viability" of the proposition".

The u-turn from Punch has disappointed the Lincoln businessman who was hoping to open the club.

During a phone conversation he told the Politics Show that he was considering legal action and that he was determined he would eventually open a swingers club in the Newark region.

He is now hoping to sell his story to the tabloids.

The Politics Show

Let us know what you think.

Join presenter, Cathy Killick, on the Politics Show on Sunday 25 June 2006 at 12:00 on BBC One.

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