COUNCILLORS have said a big ‘no’ to the Kings Arms community hub in Wellington being used for ‘18th birthday bashes with strippers’.

The comment was made during Wellington Town Council’s community committee meeting where councillors were looking at ways of making money for the Kings Arms hub.

The council’s community development officer, Laura Batcha, said: “It is proposed that the community hub may be hired for private social events such as birthday celebrations, subject to availability.

“This would primarily apply to Saturday bookings and would provide an additional opportunity to generate income outside normal working hours.”

Cllr Justin Cole, who is keen to see the community hub increase its income, said: “We have to get revenue from somewhere.

“I do not see a problem with the Kings Arms being used for children’s birthdays, but not for 18th birthday bashes with strippers.”

Although it was intended to be a light-hearted comment from Cllr Cole, it did prompt colleagues to say that council officers needed to ensure that party bookings were appropriate for the hub.

But Cllr John Thorne, who was not present at the meeting, had corresponded with the council to say he did not think it right that the hub be used for parties as they could have a detrimental financial impact on other community venues already offering such a service.

Councillors agreed to use the hub for commercial hire and private social events where appropriate, subject to availability and operational arrangements.

Cllr Cole had previously said it was important to find as much income as possible for the hub, which opened last year, as its operating costs amount to about £90,000 a year.

The hub, based in the former Kings Arms public house, in High Street, has already established itself as a key facility, but needs to increase its revenue.