WE are in favour of raising the costs of licences for sex shops in Bolton by a reasonable amount.

The clear warnings that must go outside buildings to show that explicit material is on sale inside are neither aesthetically pleasing nor morally uplifting and don't enhance the areas where they are.

But at least, under the present system, Bolton Council inspects the two sex shops in Bolton and so some control is kept on materials which are sold in them.

The warning from Cllr Mrs Prentice Howarth should be heeded that if the licence were too expensive, shops may not bother to register with the council and the local authority would have less control.

That's true. Two shops may be two too many for some people. But at least it is known that the material they are selling does not go beyond the strict guidelines laid down. Let's keep it that way.

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