Comment: Sex industry cheapens Old Market

There can be nothing but sympathy for residents and traders of Old Market, Bristol, forced to put up with business after business selling sex.

They are staggered that their neighbourhood has become what seems like the default option for those in the sex industry seeking to set up new premises.

And whatever views anyone has on this industry, people who want to set up 'mainstream' businesses, as well as families with young children, are entitled to feel aggrieved.

Residents have moved out and traders believe the presence of the massage parlours affects their customers. All of this will seriously undermine the prospects of this part of the city prospering and benefiting from things such as Cabot Circus.

With its location near the city centre, Old Market should be thriving.

Instead, it has a reputation as slightly seedy and it appears there are limits to what the city council can do to change this. Even the garish signs on the massage parlour buildings seem to be acceptable.

The sad fact is that precedents have been set and many of the massage parlour businesses have been in operation for some time.

To close them down now would be difficult in planning terms and also, having set the precedent, it always opens the door to the possibility of more businesses opening.

In the case of the latest massage parlour – beside a windsurfing shop – it does seem that the council may be able to take action.

As for the rest, the only hope may be that strength of local opinion and vigilance to report any breach of planning laws will eventually see the changes required to help the area evolve into one in which everyone feels comfortable.

People in West Street, we can be sure, must look at some of the city's more upmarket areas and wonder why there are no massage parlours there.

And as one trader told us, the council has been promising to "clean up" the area for years but in reality, little has happened.

The people have spoken but it appears nothing is being done.