COUNCILLORS' LAP STANCE; Ban on taxis carrying strip club ads EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: MARK AITKEN

TAXIS which advertise lap-dancing clubs have been banned by Scotland's biggest council.

Bosses at Glasgow City Council are refusing to allow staff to travel in cabs displaying the ads.

Whenever a taxi is hired by has left councillors virtually powerless to prevent them.

Deputy leader Jim Coleman, who is also chairman of Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership, has sent a letter to each council department announcing the ban.

He said: "We do not believe the council should be endorsing this advertising.

Exploitation "We have taken a strong stance against this industry which we believe to be a form of commercial sexual exploitation.

"From now on, no council department will use a taxi with this advertising on."

Glasgow has four major lap-dancing venues and adverts for Spearmint Rhino and Diamond Dolls appear on several taxis.

Spearmint Rhino, the world's biggest lap-dancing chain, opened their first Scots venue in Glasgow in April.

Councillors banned them from calling the venue a "gentlemen's club" in taxi adverts, saying "true gentlemen" wouldn't go there.

A Glasgow Taxis spokesman said: "This will mean a loss of earning for a few of our members."

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Sleazy image: Glasgow Council want to get rid of lap-dancing bars You've ad it: A taxi bearing one of the club adverts