Latest news with #poleDancing
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Pole dancer WINS planning battle to keep dance studio despite 'prudish' neighbours complaining of 'grunting and loud noise'
A pole dancer has won a planning battle with 'prudish' neighbours over her home studio following complaints of 'grunting and loud noise'. Samilou Saunders has been running the studio from her garage at her £700,000 bungalow in the affluent suburb of Christchurch, Dorset, since the pandemic. However, it faced the threat of closure after receiving an influx of complaints from scores of furious neighbours. Claiming that the controversial business was 'devastating' their lives due to parking issues, the disgruntled residents even complained about the sound of 'grunting and loud music' when the pole dancing classes were taking place. Meanwhile, local councillor Margaret Phipps supported the opposition, arguing that the business was 'inappropriate' for residential neighbours. But Ms Saunders' clientele, said to include doctors, accountants, vets, nurses and school teachers, argued that it was 'generational bias' from largely elderly residents who did not like the pole dancing nature of the business. Now, a planning committee at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council has voted to approve a retrospective planning application submitted by Ms Saunders to change the use of the garage from residential to a mixed-use space. The mother, who submitted the application in January, got the support of seven councillors who voted in favour, while none voted against and two abstained. But Rita Raynor, who spoke on behalf of the objectors at a planning committee meeting of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, said most of the letters of support were from people outside the area who did not have to live with it. Ms Saunders had previously described the studio as a 'modest and sustainable' small social enterprise. As the only employee, she insisted that she generally works about 20 hours a week, holding small classes of up to eight people spread across all seven days. Her planning application lists the studio's hours as 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 12pm on weekends. The timetable on her website shows only one or two classes per day during the week, usually around 10am and again at 6 or 7pm. She also stated that the studio is fitted with air conditioning, meaning windows and doors remain closed during sessions, and that music is not audible from outside. She also noted that music is not played during the classes themselves. However, neighbours expressed grave concerns that the business hours could mean classes running 66 hours over the week, with 500 people and cars coming and going. Alan Forage, 83, a retired scientist who lives next door, said: 'We (the residents) are all reasonably old and at our age we just want peace and quiet in a nice area, a quiet life. 'In the summer when windows are open you hear grunting and loud music and chatting when the pole dancing classes are on.' Neighbour John Thompson wrote: 'We, the residents, have put up with this intrusion into a totally quiet residential area with a devastating effect on our amenity. 'We are the people who have experienced the significant disruption from the noise from the pole dancing music and the effect of the parking not only the road but also on our grass verges which we maintain on a regular basis.' Another couple living nearby said that the pole dancing studio was having an adverse impact on their 'mental health and wellbeing'. Meanwhile, councillor Phipps slammed the 'seven day a week operation' adding that there was 'no respite' for local residents. She added: 'These are not what I would call limited hours. 'This is a full scale commercial business in a residential area. It was granted in good faith as a garage by this council.' The planning committee agreed to introduce some conditions to protect neighbours' amenity, with a condition for no amplified music during business use. The business use will also be restricted to indoor sport and fitness. If the business ceases, the building must then revert back to normal use as a domestic garage. But Ms Raynor said she was 'disappointed' with the committee's outcome, adding that it showed 'little consideration to the neighbourhood'. The planning committee agreed to introduce some conditions to protect neighbours' amenity, with a condition for no amplified music during business use. It came after local councillor Margaret Phipps argued that the business was 'inappropriate' for a residential neighbours. She added: 'A seven-day a week business, with 66 hours of operation is an excessive situation for neighbours to deal with. 'We accept that people have to make a living, there's no personal animosity. 'We are not against it because it's pole dancing, if it had been anything else, like a children's party business, we would feel the same. 'It's simply a residential area and we would like to enjoy our properties without a commercial business impacting on that. 'We would have like some restrictions around classes and number of people, a bit more protection and consideration for us as people.' Ms Saunders said that she had no further comment. However, she previously shared that the ongoing complaints had strained the relationship with her neighbours, even leading to her ignoring them in the street. Reflecting on the tiresome neighbour row, she said: 'This has been going on for nearly two years. It's been a lot of stress and I've been really down about it. 'Some of the things neighbours said were quite horrible and shocking. 'I don't feel like I can wave and smile at people anymore, I feel intimidated. They (objectors) will stand and stare at me when I leave the house.'
News.com.au
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Five women in hot water after pole dancing stunt at Greek palace goes viral
Five women who staged a semi-nude photo shoot on a pole outside a 'cultural landscape' at 1.30am while on holiday in Greece have faced court. British dancers Imogen Gunter-Zak, 30, Sharon Randell, 57, Alisha Haddrell, 32, Katie Clark, 40, and a German woman were allegedly filmed swinging around the white post at Corfu's Old Palace, a 200-year-old former royal residence and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Footage of the troupe, who were reportedly visiting the Greek Island for a two-week study abroad program with their pole dancing school, showed two members of the group in sexy red lingerie posing for photos as the others cheered them on, The Sun reports. However, the pole dancers were later arrested after the video of the photo shoot went viral, with the women accused of violating archaeological law and degrading the surrounding area, with Corfu's Ministry of Culture referring to it as an 'illegal act'. Two of the five dancers were handed six-month suspended sentences and ordered to pay €200 in court fees, according to local outlet The remaining three dancers were acquitted. Outside court, the acquitted dancers apologised, insisting they 'meant no disrespect to the monument' and 'never intended to cause offence'. But the ordeal has been slammed by Steve Gunter-Zak, the father of the youngest woman involved, who claimed the women were treated like 'scrubbers' and locked away with hardened criminals 'They had no idea it was wrong to be performing where they were,' he told The Sun. 'I believe this has been driven by politics. Someone in authority has got it in for them. 'But these women are not scrubbers. They're not tarts and their dancing is not sexual. It's performance art.' His daughter Imogen and Sharon were named by the publication as the two that have been hit with the six-month suspended jail terms. They were convicted of 'degrading the cultural landscape' at the Old Palace of St Michael and St George. Both have appealed with their lawyer Makis Grammenos confident of success. 'They didn't need to spend three nights in cells. They were anxious, sleep-deprived and had no food,' he said. Retired lecturer Steve said Imogen and Alisha – her pal and business partner – hired a local photographer to shoot video and stills of their trip. 'He chose where they would perform. He assured them this site was okay and they trusted him,' the dad claimed. 'They did it late at night to cause as little disturbance and nuisance to locals. 'But it attracted quite a few people and some were videoing on phones. One put it online and it went viral. 'A few days later it became clear the girls were in trouble so they went to a police station to tell them what they'd been doing. 'But as soon as they got there they were charged.' Steve also claimed that despite Imogen being convicted she was never even dancing. Thanos Giannakouris said: 'They didn't leave a scratch on the monument. 'It's totally overblown. These were young girls having a bit of fun.' The three women who were acquitted have since apologised on camera. The footage, which was reportedly filmed during the early hours of May 23, 2025, shows a photo shoot taking place after a pole was erected beneath the grand arch of the historic structure. The UNESCO World Heritage Site seen in the footage first opened in 1824 and is a renowned example of Regency architecture. Despite suffering damage during the war, it has since been restored and adapted to house the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu — a unique institution in Greece, featuring rare and extensive collections from China, Japan, India, and other parts of Asia.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'They're artists!' Furious father of British pole dancer who was arrested with four others for 'degrading' a World Heritage site insist they were creating art
A troupe of pole dancers who were arrested in Corfu after undertaking a scantily-clad photo shoot in front of a historic Greek landmark were creating 'art', according to one of their fathers. A video of the racy performance went viral as onlookers watched the half-naked women outside the Old Palace of St. Michael and St. George in the early hours of the morning. One of the clips even showed two women balancing together on a pole in bright red underwear by the 200-year-old UNESCO heritage site. They have since been charged with violating archaeological law and degrading the surrounding area, but the father insists someone within foreign authorities 'has got it in for them'. Steve Gunter-Zak's daughter, Imogen, 30, was one of the five women forced to endure three days in Greek prison after being arrested. Sharon Randell, 57, Alisha Haddrell, 32, Katie Clark, 40, and a German woman all joined Imogen behind bars. But Mr Gunter-Zak has claimed the women were led on by a photographer who encouraged them to use the site as an idyllic backdrop. He told The Sun: 'They had no idea it was wrong to be performing where they were. I believe this has been driven by politics. Someone in authority has got it in for them. 'But these women are not scrubbers. They're not tarts and their dancing is not sexual. It's performance art.' Two of the women, which the newspaper believes to be Imogen, of Worcester, and Sharon, of Faringdon, Oxon, were given six-month suspended jail terms. Both have since appealed and their lawyer Makis Grammenos is confident he can secure a positive outcome, saying they 'didn't need to spend three nights in cells'. The dancers had been visiting the island as part of a 'pole dancing vacation' that takes place every over the last two weeks of May and is set up by a British holiday organiser. And after realising their video had gone viral, Mr Gunter-Zak said the group went to a police station to confess what had happened where they were immediately charged. Steve also said that his daughter had not even danced during the ordeal, adding that they were only there to train the women. Three of the women have since apologised on camera. The Municipality of Corfu and the Museum of Asian Art are also said to have filed a lawsuit against the dancers. Local outlet ProtoThema said at the time: 'Understandably, there were several reactions regarding who gave permission for such a photo shoot in the city centre.' The former royal residence, commissioned by British Lord High Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland and designed by Colonel George Whitmore, holds pride of place in the Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dozens of residents expressed online fury over the 'disgraceful' photo shoot taking place outside the historic palace with some claiming the dancers were British. 'The Corfu Palaces: they once hosted royals. Now, pole dancing,' commenter Panagiotis Kalogeros wrote on Facebook. 'If Lord Byron saw pole dancing at the Palaces, he would have returned to England without a second thought.' 'Would they do the same at Buckingham [Palace]?' wrote another. One poster also raised concerns about how the pole was supported, fearing 'that they pierced the slabs in the ground' to hold it in place. There was no evidence the site had been damaged. The Palace of St. Michael and St. George was designed by British architects in the early 19th century, using neoclassical styles typical of the time. For more than two centuries it has stood in the old city of Corfu, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007. The building is still in use today and remains a well preserved instance of Regency architecture towards the end of the Georgian period. Greek users on Facebook were anxious that part of the site could have been damaged during the photo shoot, several asking how they gained permission. 'Did the permanent residents of the historic centre and their association take a position for this event?' one asked. 'Who gave the permission slip???' said another. 'Someone should call the police,' added a third. The Directorate of the Museum of Asian Art, today housed inside the palace, was unaware of the event, say local media. Not all criticised the dancers for performing outside the historic building, however. User Bill Metallinos defended the performance. 'Basically, what we see is the backstage of some photography,' he said of the video. 'Otherwise dancing is part of culture. It's just that this one is misunderstood... 'Yes the concept offends the monument but as an open space unguarded and unmarked disappointing swimsuits or extra items I see no reason someone who wants to take photos to be banned, it is an open public space. 'But to see how hypocrit[ical] we are, we have passed a road of heavy vehicles through the Palace and under its Arch and we are sending all the exhaust pollution to Tufopetra that has been consumed by all this fuel gas... 'And instead of shouting about the damage we are doing to it we ourselves are shouting about the photography that was done by some professionals in the area. 'In the end, who damages the monument? Them or us?' Another user disagreed and expanded: 'What do traditional dances have to do with stripping there? Me personally if my daughter was there I would be ashamed.' The palace in Corfu was built over a five year period in the immediate aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 saw the Ionian Islands, including Corfu, become a protectorate of the UK through the Treaty of Paris. In turn, Corfu became the seat of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. In turn, Corfu became the seat of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. It was Sir Thomas Maitland who commissioned the Palace of St. Michael and St. George as the official residence for the Lord High Commissioner. There was a boom in Regency architecture building across Britain and its overseas holdings after the end of the Napoleonic Wars as government spending steadily recovered and timber shortages eased without the war demand. Closer to home, examples of Regency architecture can be seen in the work of John Nash across London. Britain revived some of the classical architectural styles of the Greeks and Romans during its imperial rise, after architects like Inigo Jones brought back to the British Isles techniques recovered by the Italians through the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Brit women arrested for pole-dancing in Corfu are ‘performance artists' & were treated like ‘scrubbers' in jail
FIVE Brits held over a pole-dancing stunt in Corfu were treated like 'scrubbers' and locked away with hardened criminals, one of their dads has claimed. The group sparked outrage after two of the women were recorded swinging around a flagpole in lingerie and posing for pictures at a protected world heritage site. 5 5 5 Steve Gunter-Zak's daughter Imogen, 30, is said to have organised the stunt as she was arrested and forced to endure three days in jail. Sharon Randell, 57, Alisha Haddrell, 32, Katie Clark, 40, and a German woman all joined her locked away in hellish Greek prison cells. Devastated dad Steve has now said the women had no idea what they were doing was wrong and believed it was just "performance art". He said: 'They had no idea it was wrong to be performing where they were. 'I believe this has been driven by politics. Someone in authority has got it in for them. "But these women are not scrubbers. They're not tarts and their dancing is not sexual. It's performance art.' Two of the women, said to be Imogen, of Worcester, and Sharon, of Faringdon, Oxon, were hit with six-month suspended jail terms. They were convicted of 'degrading the cultural landscape' at the Old Palace of St Michael and St George, as previously reported by The Sun. Both have appealed with their lawyer Makis Grammenos confident of success. He said: 'They didn't need to spend three nights in cells. They were anxious, sleep deprived and had no food.' Moment Brit pole dancers issue grovelling apology after avoiding jail over scantily-clad display at hallowed Greek site All five are believed to have met online or at a yoga retreat in Corfu. Two are thought to still be on the island while three flew home on Monday. Retired lecturer Steve said Imogen and Alisha - her pal and business partner - hired a local photographer to shoot video and stills of their trip. He said: 'He chose where they would perform. He assured them this site was okay and they trusted him. "They did it late at night to cause as little disturbance and nuisance to locals. 'But it attracted quite a few people and some were videoing on phones. One put it online and it went viral. "A few days later it became clear the girls were in trouble so they went to a police station to tell them what they'd been doing. "But as soon as they got there they were charged." Steve also said that despite Imogen being convicted she was never even dancing. They were only there to train the women, he added. Three women have since apologised on camera. The UNESCO World Heritage Site seen in the footage first opened in 1824 and is a renowned example of Regency architecture. And despite being accused of violating archaeological law and degrading the surrounding area, a lawyer believes the charges won't stick. Thanos Giannakouris said: 'They didn't leave a scratch on the monument. "It's totally overblown. These were young girls having a bit of fun.' 5 5
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Pole dancer is set to win planning battle to keep dance studio at her £700,000 bungalow despite angry neighbours' complaints over 'grunting and loud noise'
A pole dancer is on track to win the planning battle to keep a dance studio at her posh £700,000 bungalow despite locals' complaints of 'grunting and loud music'. Samilou Saunders has been battling 'generational bias' from neighbours in the town who are against her business. She has operated the studio from her bungalow in Christchurch, Dorset, for the past two years, but it faced the threat of closure after complaints were raised by local residents. Neighbours argued that the studio was having a 'devastating' impact on their lives, pointing to loud music during classes and parking problems. They were supported by local councillor Margaret Phipps, who deemed the business 'inappropriate' for a residential neighbourhood. However, Mrs Saunders, whose clientele includes doctors, accountants, vets, nurses, and school teachers, believes the opposition stems more from discomfort with a pole dancing studio in the area than genuine concerns. Now in her 40s, Mrs Saunders was required to submit a retrospective planning application in January in a bid to continue running the studio. Now, planning officers at Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council have recommended it be approved. In his report, planning officer Peter Walters recommended introducing conditions to curb noise disturbance and restrict opening hours in an effort to address the complaints. Mrs Saunders said she felt a sense of relief but admitted the dispute has strained her relationship with her neighbours. She said: 'This has been going on for nearly two years now. It's been a lot of stress and I've been really down about it. 'Some of the things neighbours said were quite horrible and shocking. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I'm glad the planning officer has seen through the lies about music and noise. 'If I honestly thought I was causing an issue I would have gone round to my neighbours and said what can I do to sort this out? 'I don't feel like I can wave and smile at people anymore, I feel intimidated. They (objectors) will stand and stare at me when I leave the house. 'I'm very pleased with the report, I'm feeling really positive about the outcome. 'I'm hoping when it's all over, we can just move on, but I don't feel like I'm quite there yet.' The mother previously ran a studio in Bournemouth but relocated the business to her home during the Covid pandemic, continuing operations there due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. She is the sole employee and typically works around 20 hours per week, holding small classes of up to eight people, spread throughout all seven days. Her planning application lists the studio's hours as 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 12pm on weekends. However, the timetable published on her website shows only one or two classes per day during the week, usually around 10am and again at 6 or 7pm. She stated that the studio is fitted with air conditioning, meaning windows and doors remain closed during sessions, and that music is not audible from outside. She also noted that music is not played during the classes themselves. Despite this, neighbours insisted the business was ruining their enjoyment of their homes and the surrounding neighbourhood. Alan Forage, 83, a retired scientist who lives next door, said: 'We (the residents) are all reasonably old and at our age we just want peace and quiet in a nice area, a quiet life. 'In the summer when windows are open you hear grunting and loud music and chatting when the pole dancing classes are on.' Neighbour John Thompson wrote: 'We, the residents, have put up with this intrusion into a totally quiet residential area with a devastating effect on our amenity. 'We are the people who have experienced the significant disruption from the noise from the pole dancing music and the effect of the parking not only the road but also on our grass verges which we maintain on a regular basis. 'This application should be rejected and the building brought back in line with the original planning approval, namely construction of an enlarged replacement garage, not an unauthorised pole dancing business in the heart of a quiet residential area.' Dorothy and Michael English wrote: 'We feel that our home is no longer as enjoyable. We can no longer use the garden freely. Our mental health and wellbeing is being affected.' The BCP planning committee will vote on the matter at a meeting next week. Mrs Saunders said: 'I am still a bit on edge for the meeting. 'I've been told the councillors would have to have a good reason to refuse it and go against the officer's recommendation.'
