Piet Manca's next venture is a lap dancing club

The businessman who opened a sex shop next to Welsh Secretary Peter Hain's constituency office says he now plans to establish a lap dancing club opposite the MP's base.

Councillors were furious when the store called Little Amsterdam opened in Neath in December selling packets of cannabis seeds, amyl nitrate poppers and pornographic videos and magazines on the Welsh Secretary's doorstep.

But after visiting the premises both police and council officials said owner Piet Manca was operating entirely within the law.

Now father-of-two Mr Manca said he is looking at opening a lap dancing club in the former Abbey Nightclub opposite Mr Hain's office.

The type of people that would be going there would not be riff-raff Piet Manca

He is attempting to lease the building and says even if he is not granted a licence then he has another venue lined up locally which has already been granted the necessary paperwork.

"It would be for over 25s and would be tastefully done," he explained.

"The type of people that would be going there would not be riff-raff but lads on stag parties and people out to enjoy themselves.

Planning laws

"The Abbey Nightclub would be ideal as we want to have it over two floors.

"It would be based on a club called Funny Girls in Blackpool which is very successful.

"But if we do not get the licence then I have been contacted by another club nearby that already has a licence and we will start off there."

Peter Hain's office opposed the sex shop

Mr Manca said police and council officers had visited Little Amsterdam on several occasions since it opened in December.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said nothing illegal was taking place at the premises.

"There are no police issues because the cannabis and hemp being sold is only in seed.

"It is not an offence to sell that, only to cultivate it.

"Anything to do with the sexual side of it is legislated by the council."

A council spokesman said: "The premises has planning permission for a cafe but can be used as a shop under planning laws - there has been no breach."

When the sex shop opened Mr Hain's agent Howard Davies said he was opposed to it.

"This sort of thing is not needed here," said Mr Davies.

"The street has been upgraded recently and this thing only downgrades it."

Meanwhile, residents in Carmarthen have until 14 May to make their views known about plans for a sex shop at the Quay.

So far just one person has written to the authority objecting to the licence application.